What is a Top-Level Domain (TLD)?
A top-level domain is the part of the
domain name located to the right of the dot (" . "). The most common
TLDs are .com, .net and .org. Several new top-level domains have been
added to the menu recently, including, .biz, .info, .name, and .ws.
The top-level domains have certain guidelines attached, but are for the
most part available to any registrant, anywhere in the world. Exceptions
are the restricted TLDs (rTLDs) — which include .aero, .biz, .edu,
.mil, .museum, .name, and .pro — that require the registrant to
represent a certain type of entity, or to belong to a certain community.
The .name TLD is available strictly for individuals, while .edu is
reserved for educational entities, such as universities or high schools.
Where appropriate, a top-level domain name can be of geographic
significance and hence only available to registrants in the locale
defined by the TLD. These are called country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) and
include such top-level domains as .bz (Belize),.ca (Canada), .dk
(Denmark), .ec (Ecuador), .ie (Republic of Ireland), .uk (United
Kingdom), .us (United States), and .zw (Zimbabwe).
