Generic top-level domain facts for kids
A generic top-level domain (or gTLD) is a special kind of internet address ending, like .com or .org. These endings are managed by an organization called the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). They help organize websites on the Internet. Think of them like different neighborhoods for websites, each with its own purpose.
| gTLD | What it's for |
|---|---|
| .aero | The air travel industry (like airlines) |
| .arpa | Reserved for important internet operations |
| .asia | Companies, groups, and people in the Asia-Pacific region |
| .biz | Businesses |
| .cat | Websites related to the Catalan language or culture |
| .com | Originally for commercial businesses, but now anyone can use it |
| .coop | Cooperative organizations |
| .edu | Colleges and universities |
| .gov | Government groups in the United States |
| .info | Information websites, but anyone can use it |
| .int | International organizations created by agreements |
| .jobs | Websites about jobs and employment |
| .mil | The U.S. military |
| .mobi | Websites made for mobile phones and devices |
| .museum | Museums |
| .name | Families and individuals |
| .net | Originally for network companies, now anyone can use it |
| .org | Originally for non-profit groups, now anyone can use it |
| .pro | Certain professional groups |
| .tel | Services that connect phone networks and the Internet |
| .travel | Travel companies like agents, airlines, and hotels |
Contents
Understanding Internet Addresses
Every website you visit has a unique address, like a street address for a house. This address is called a domain name. At the very end of a domain name, you'll see a few letters, like .com, .org, or .net. These are called top-level domains (TLDs). They tell you a bit about the website.
What are Generic Top-Level Domains?
Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are one of the main types of TLDs. They are called "generic" because they are not tied to a specific country. For example, .com is a gTLD. It's used all over the world. Other examples include .org for organizations and .net for networks.
How TLDs are Organized
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is like the traffic controller for all internet addresses. They sort TLDs into different groups to keep the internet organized. Here are some of the main types of TLDs:
- Infrastructure TLD: There is only one of these, .arpa. It's used for important internet operations.
- Country-Code TLDs (ccTLDs): These are two-letter endings that stand for specific countries, like .us for the United States or .uk for the United Kingdom.
- Sponsored TLDs (sTLDs): These are special TLDs that are managed by a specific organization or community. For example, .gov is sponsored by the U.S. government.
- Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs): These are the ones we are focusing on, like .com, .info, and .biz. Many of them can be used by anyone.
- Generic-Restricted Top-Level Domains: These are gTLDs that have specific rules about who can use them. For example, .edu is only for educational institutions.
The Purpose of gTLDs
When gTLDs were first created, each one had a specific purpose. For instance, .com was for commercial businesses, and .org was for non-profit organizations. Over time, many of these rules became less strict. Now, many gTLDs, like .com, .net, and .info, are open for anyone to register. This makes it easier for people and businesses to get the domain names they want.
However, some gTLDs still have strict rules. For example, you can only get a .gov domain if you are a U.S. government entity. Similarly, .edu is reserved for schools and colleges. These rules help keep the internet organized and ensure that certain websites are used for their intended purpose.
See also
In Spanish: Dominio de nivel superior genérico para niños
