What is a Domain Extension?

Domain Name Extensions are the last part of a domain name. For Example, in ‘gwswebhost.com,’ the domain name extension is .com .

                                                                                      We will also see domain name extensions referred to as top- level domains (TLDs). These terms will be used interchangeably throughout the post.
                                                          Your domain name and domain name extension give you a working domain name that your target audience can type into their browsers to access your website.

 

There are a few Different types of domain name extensions available :----

1.   Generic Domain Extensions

2.   Sponsored Domain Extensions

3.   Generic - Restricted Domain Extensions

4.   Country Code Domain Extensions

Generic Domain Extensions à

   There’s a certain  irony about the word “generic” in the phrase “generic top-level domain,” or gTLD. Generic means something unexceptional, banal, common – and yet, websites that use a generic top-level domain are respected, sought – after, and valuable to the companies and individuals who use them.
                                                               gTLDs are the most common TLDs and include .com, .net, and .org. Registering your business using any of these gTLDs gives your website a competitive advantage since they are familiar to users. The  Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and numbers (ICANN) manages and maintains the list of gTLDs and occasionally adds new gTLDs to it.
                                                               gTLDs are the most common TLDs and include .com, .net, and .org. Registering your business using any of these gTLDs gives your website a competitive advantage since they are familiar to users. The  Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and numbers (ICANN) manages and maintains the list of gTLDs and occasionally adds new gTLDs to it.

The Original seven  gTLDs are among the most popular top - level  domains on the internet. The Seven are :-

·        .com (Short for Commercial)

·        .edu (Short for Education)

·        .gov (Short for Government)

·        .int (Short for Integer)   

·        .Mil (Short for Million)  

·        .net (Short for Network) 

·        .org (Short for Organization)

Sponsored Domain Extensions à  Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs) are a type or category of top – level domain that is distinguished by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). sTLDs are specialized domain extensions that have a sponsor behind them that represents a specific community that  the domain will serve.

Generic - Restricted Domain Extensions à  Generic – Restricted Domain Extension is similar to a generic top – level domain, but they are intended for more specific types of websites. When you register this domain extension you will typically need to provide a bit more information about your website and it’s intended purpose. Some examples of this TLD include .name and .pro .

 

Country Code Domain Extensions à  Lastly We have Country - Code Domain Extensions. ccTLDs are domain names for specific Countries, Territories, or  States. If a website  address ends in a ccTLD, you can usually assume it refers to a specific geographical location. For Example:-  .in is used for websites in India, and .co for Colombia, .uk for the United Kingdom. But it’s also used by businesses and Startups the World Over. Each Country has its own TLD that helps to identify that site as being from a specific country.

For Example :-

 

·        .co (Short for Colombia, but Often used for Company)

·        .us (Short for United States)