Basic information about domains

The last part that comes after the dot in a domain is the top-level domain. This differs into different types, which are used for different purposes. For example, many websites refer to a specific country or region through a country code TLD, whereas generic TLDs describe a specific use, such as “.net” for networks or “.org” for organizations.

Overall, there are three types of top-level domains:

• gTLD: Generic Top-Level Domains: These are top-level domains like .org, .net, .info
• sTLD: Sponsored Top-Level Domains: For example .jobs, .gov, .mil
• ccTLD: Country Code Top-Level Domains: Probably the best known type: .de, .at, .uk

Now that we have clarified what exactly a top-level domain is and what types are distinguished, let’s take a look at why new TLDs are constantly being introduced.

Number of websites grows

The total number of websites continues to increase. Finding a suitable domain is becoming increasingly difficult for many, as popular top-level domains in combination with the desired domain name are often already taken. In the past, domain names became longer and longer for this reason, whereupon the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN for short, decided to introduce new TLDs. This was to compensate for the growth of the new websites. This is because ICANN is responsible for managing the top-level domains. It is a non-profit organization based in California that has been launching new TLDs almost weekly since 2013. However, it will be several years before all the planned TLDs are released. For some of these new TLDs, however, exact dates have already been set for when they will be introduced. If you want to use one of these new top-level domains, you have three options to secure it:

• Binding reservation: When the exact date for a new TLD is fixed, it can be reserved at a fixed price.
• Non-binding reservation : If there is no fixed date for the TLD yet, it can usually be reserved free of charge.
• Registration: If a TLD is already released, it can be registered at fixed conditions.

Finally, let’s look at the advantages of the new TLDs:

The biggest advantage of the new top-level domains is that website operators can use their desired name as a domain. Other advantages are, for example, that the specific orientation of the website is shown, such as .store. In addition, thereby also a more regional reference becomes possible, as for example .berlin. And also the high recognition value is an advantage, since one has not seen such TLDs so frequently.

E-commerce agency eBakery

We hope we could help you with this video. If you have any questions, please contact the experts at eBakery. As an e-commerce agency we have extensive experience in domains.