Domain Names
In today’s digital age, the domain name system is a cornerstone of the internet, enabling users to navigate the vast expanse of online content with ease. With a diverse array of top-level domains (TLDs) available, the selection of a domain extension can significantly impact a website’s identity, accessibility, and relevance. From traditional domains like .com and .net to specialized ones such as .tech and .ai, each TLD serves unique purposes and comes with its own set of rules and characteristics.
This comprehensive table offers a detailed overview of various top-level domains, categorizing them into generic, country code, sponsored, and new gTLDs. It covers essential aspects such as type, description, character length requirements, registration policies, and additional features like DNSSEC and IDN support. Whether you’re a business seeking a memorable web address, a developer looking for a tech-focused domain, or an individual interested in a personal website, this guide provides valuable insights into the world of domain names, helping you make informed decisions for your online presence.
Domain Extension | Type | Description | Min Character Length | Max Character Length | Min Registration Years | Max Registration Years | Registration Policy | Grace Period | Transfer Policy | DNSSEC Support | IDN Support | Restrictions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.aero | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Specific to the aviation industry. | 3 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Restricted to aviation industry members | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | Restricted to aviation industry |
.ai | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | Anguilla ccTLD, popular in the artificial intelligence industry. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.app | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Primarily for applications and app developers. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.asia | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Primarily for the Pan-Asian and Asia-Pacific regions. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.biz | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Originally intended for business use, open to anyone. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.blog | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Primarily for blogs and personal websites. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.ca | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | Canadian ccTLD, restricted to Canadian residents or entities. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Must be a Canadian resident or entity | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | Restricted to Canadian residents/entities |
.cat | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Reserved for websites promoting Catalan culture and language. | 3 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Restricted to Catalan-speaking communities | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | Restricted to Catalan culture |
.cn | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | China ccTLD. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.co | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | Colombia ccTLD, used globally for company and commercial domains. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.com | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Originally for commercial entities, now open to anyone. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.de | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | Germany ccTLD. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.dev | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Intended for developers and tech projects. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.edu | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Primarily for U.S.-based accredited educational institutions. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 5 | Restricted to accredited educational institutions | 30 days | Restricted transfer policy | Yes | Yes | Restricted to educational institutions |
.eu | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | European Union ccTLD, restricted to EU residents or entities. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Must be a European Union resident or entity | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | Restricted to EU residents/entities |
.fr | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | France ccTLD. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.gov | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Available to U.S. government organizations. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 2 | Restricted to U.S. government entities | 30 days | Not transferable | Yes | No | Restricted to U.S. government entities |
.info | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Primarily for informational websites but open to everyone. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.in | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | India ccTLD. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.int | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Reserved for international treaty-based organizations. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Restricted to international organizations | 30 days | Not transferable | Yes | No | Restricted to international organizations |
.io | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | British Indian Ocean Territory ccTLD, popular with tech startups. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.jp | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | Japan ccTLD. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.jobs | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Used for job-related content. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Restricted to employment-related sites | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | Restricted to job-related sites |
.me | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | Montenegro ccTLD, often used for personal websites and branding. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.mil | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Exclusively for U.S. Department of Defense entities. | 2 | 63 | 1 | 2 | Restricted to U.S. military organizations | 30 days | Not transferable | Yes | No | Restricted to U.S. military entities |
.mobi | Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) | Designed for mobile devices. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.name | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Reserved for personal use by individuals. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to individuals | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.net | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Originally intended for network providers, now open for general use. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.org | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Originally intended for organizations, now open to anyone. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.shop | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Designed for e-commerce and retail businesses. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.tech | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Popular among tech companies and startups. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.tv | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | Tuvalu ccTLD, often used for television and media-related websites. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |
.us | Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) | United States ccTLD. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Restricted to U.S. residents and entities | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | Restricted to U.S. residents/entities |
.xyz | Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) | Used for anything, popular with startups and innovators. | 1 | 63 | 1 | 10 | Open to everyone | 30 days | Transferable between registrars | Yes | Yes | None |