Knowledge Base

What is a TLD? (Top-Level Domain)

TLD stands for "Top-Level Domain." It represents the last part of a domain name; for example, in www.example.com, ".com" is the TLD. TLDs are an important part of the internet's addressing system and help categorize domain names. If you would like to learn more about Domain Services, you can visit our relevant page.

Important Point: TLDs help internet users and search engines understand websites.

What are the Different Types of TLDs?

TLDs are generally divided into three main categories:

1. Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs): The most common type of TLD. They are not specific to any geographic location or country. Examples: .com, .org, .net, .info, .biz.
2. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): TLDs assigned to a specific country or region. Examples: .tr (Turkey), .uk (United Kingdom), .de (Germany), .fr (France).
3. Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs): TLDs allocated for a specific community or purpose. Examples: .gov (US government), .edu (educational institutions), .mil (US military).

More Information About gTLDs (Generic Top-Level Domains):

.com is designed for commercial organizations, but it can be used by anyone today. .org is often used by non-profit organizations. .net was originally designed for organizations related to network infrastructure, but it is now used for general purposes. .info is designed for informative websites. .biz is designed for businesses.

More Information About ccTLDs (Country Code Top-Level Domains):

A unique ccTLD is available for each country. These TLDs are often used for websites that offer content in that country's language or specific to that country. Some ccTLDs can also be used by people outside the country. For example, the .tv (Tuvalu) TLD is popular for websites related to television and video content.

More Information About sTLDs (Sponsored Top-Level Domains):

sTLDs are allocated for a specific community or purpose and can generally be used by organizations that meet certain requirements. For example, the .gov TLD can only be used by US government agencies. The .edu TLD can be used by accredited educational institutions.

What are New gTLDs and Why are They Important?

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) launched the new gTLD (generic top-level domain) program in 2012. This program allowed hundreds of new TLDs to be added to the internet's domain name system. New gTLDs can represent specific industries, brands, or interests that were not previously available. For example, TLDs such as .app, .shop, and .blog are available.

Importance of New gTLDs:

• More options: Businesses and individuals can choose a domain name that better reflects their brand or the content of their websites.
• Shorter and more memorable domain names: Thanks to new TLDs, it may be possible to find shorter and more memorable domain names.
• SEO advantages: In some cases, new gTLDs can provide advantages for search engine optimization (SEO).

Example Case Study: A coffee shop owner can use a domain name like www.example.coffee to more clearly indicate that their website is related to coffee. This can be a more understandable domain name for both users and search engines.

Why is TLD Selection Important?

TLD selection is an important factor for the success of your website. The right TLD selection can strengthen your brand, help you reach your target audience, and improve your SEO performance.

Things to Consider When Choosing a TLD:

• Your Purpose: What is the purpose of your website? Is it a commercial website or a website for a non-profit organization?
• Your Target Audience: Where is your target audience located? Are you appealing to a local audience or an international audience?
• Your Brand: How does the TLD reflect your brand? It is important to choose a TLD that is compatible with your brand.
• SEO: What is the impact of the TLD on SEO performance? Some TLDs may provide better SEO performance than others.

Important Point: TLD selection is a long-term decision. Changing your domain name can negatively affect your website's rankings and traffic.

What Determines the Price of TLDs?

The prices of TLDs vary depending on several factors. These factors include:

• Popularity of the TLD: More popular TLDs are generally more expensive. For example, the .com TLD may be more expensive than a less popular TLD.
• Domain name registrar: Different domain name registrars may offer different prices for the same TLD.
• Registration period: The length of time you want to register your domain name can affect the price. Discounts are often offered for longer registration periods.
• Additional services: Some domain name registrars offer additional services with the domain name (e.g., privacy protection, DNS management). These services can increase the price.

The following table compares the average prices of different TLDs (prices may vary):

Important Point: When comparing domain name prices, pay attention not only to the initial registration price but also to the renewal price. Some domain name registrars may offer a low price for the initial registration, but the renewal price may be higher.

How to Register a Domain Name?

You can follow these steps to register a domain name:

1. Choose a domain name registrar: Choose a reliable domain name registrar. There are many different domain name registrars available (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).
2. Search for a domain name: On the website of the domain name registrar you have chosen, check if the domain name you want is available.
3. Add the domain name to the cart: If the domain name is available, add it to the cart and proceed to the payment process.
4. Enter registration information: Enter the required registration information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email address.
5. Make a payment: Make a payment with a payment method such as a credit card, debit card, or PayPal.
6. Manage your domain name: After registering your domain name, you can manage DNS settings, WHOIS information, and other settings.

What is DNS (Domain Name System)?

DNS is a system that translates domain names into IP addresses. IP addresses are the addresses of computers on the internet. DNS allows users to access websites using domain names. For example, when a user types www.example.com, the DNS system translates this domain name into the corresponding IP address and allows the user to access the website.

What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a database containing information about domain name owners. The WHOIS database contains information such as the domain name's owner, contact information, and registration date. Some domain name registrars offer WHOIS privacy services. This service hides the domain name owner's information in the WHOIS database.

Example Code (Checking Domain Name Validity with PHP):

<?php
function isValidDomain($domain) {
  return (preg_match("/^([a-z\d](-*[a-z\d])*)(\.([a-z\d](-*[a-z\d])*))*$/i", $domain) // validates general domain format
          && preg_match("/^.{1,253}$/", $domain) // validates overall length
          && preg_match("/^[^\.]{1,63}(\.[^\.]{1,63})*$/", $domain)   ); // validates labels length
}

$domain = "example.com";

if (isValidDomain($domain)) {
  echo "$domain is a valid domain name.";
} else {
  echo "$domain is not a valid domain name.";
}
?>

What Kind of Changes Are Expected in TLDs in the Future?

TLDs are constantly changing with the evolution of the internet. Some of the expected changes in TLDs in the future are:

• More new gTLDs: ICANN may continue to add new gTLDs in the future. This will provide more options for businesses and individuals.
• IDN (Internationalized Domain Names): IDNs are domain names that contain characters other than the Latin alphabet. The use of IDNs is becoming increasingly common and is expected to become even more widespread in the future.
• Blockchain-based domain names: Blockchain technology offers a new approach to the domain name system. Blockchain-based domain names aim to create a decentralized and censorship-resistant domain name system.
• More security: As internet security threats increase, the security of TLDs becomes more important. More effort is expected to be put into increasing the security of TLDs in the future.

The following table summarizes the possible future trends of TLDs:

Important Point: The future of TLDs is closely linked to the future of the internet. As internet technologies evolve, TLDs will continue to change and evolve.

I hope this comprehensive guide has helped you understand everything you need to know about TLDs.