What is a TLD?
A top level domain (.TLD) is the last segment after the final full stop in a URL address, for example, .com or .org. A TLD is used to classify a website whether it’s commercial, charity, location-based or another specific variant.
Defining a TLD
To understand what is a top level domain, it’s important to define what domain names are as, according to the latest research, there are now 271,728,559 unique domains as of 2022. That makes them incredibly important, even hugely valuable both financially and in terms of branding.
Domain names were created by the Domain Name System (DNS) in 1983. The aim? To help bring order to the potential chaos of domain names as they continued to proliferate in number.
What’s in a name
The DNS acts like a directory for the internet. To explain, each domain – or web address – actually starts out as an IP address, a long string of indecipherable letters and numbers that make up a website’s address.
Remembering such long lists of numbers to simply visit a website would be a pain for anyone (even if copy and pasting). This is where DNS steps in. It turns an IP address into a domain name so it can be recalled and typed in easily by users.
3 parts of a domain name
A domain name is customisable and can be split into three parts. The second level domain (SLD) are letters to the left of the final full stop. These letters are usually words so they are recognisable and memorable (such as the organisation’s name). For instance, our SLD is ovhcloud. Top level domains (TLD) are the final part of the web address – right after the final full stop. For example, OVHcloud’s is .com. Bring our SLD and our TLD together and you end up with ovhcloud.com
There is also a optional third component known as a subdomain, which is used to the left of the SLD. These can be deployed to section off areas of a website for a specific use. For instance, for our blog section, we use blog.ovhcloud.com
What are the different types of TLD?
While TLD refers to the last part of a URL, there are actually several different variants of top level domains. Each have their own specific use cases so it’s important that you understand each one so you can decide which type is the best fit for your organisational needs:
Generic top level domains (gTLD)
A gTLD is deployed to promote general types of websites, services or products. Examples of generic top level domains include:
.com (usually denotes a commercial company)
.org (denotes a non-profit organisation)
.info (denotes an informational website)
.biz (denotes a business, though .com is more prolific)
Country code top level domains (ccTLD)
A ccTLD lets you swap out a generic TLD – for instance, .com – and replace it with a country-specific two-character identifier code. For instance, .ca for Canada or .ph for the Philippines. There are over 300 ccTLDs including:
.cn (China)
.de (Germany)
.uk (United Kingdom)
.nl (Netherlands)
.br (Brazil)
There are also country code top level domains available for non-English speaking nations including .السعودية (Saudi Arabia), .日本 (Japan) and .இந்தியா (India).
Sponsored top level domains (sTLD)
These are only available to organisations and businesses that meet strict requirements as laid out by the sTLD's sponsor. Sponsored top level domains must represent a specific theme/community purpose – for instance, government agencies – to be eligible. Only once final approval has been given by the sponsor can sponsored top level domains be assigned and used by organisations. Examples include:
.edu (can only by used by educational institutions)
.gov (can only be used by the US government)
.mil (can only be used by the US military)
.aero (can only be used by the aviation industry)
It’s also worth noting that some sponsored top level domains started out as generic top level domains – such as .mil and .gov. Why changes were made remains unclear but we suspect that certain gTLD usage required stricter regulation, i.e., not having .mil or .gov becoming accessible to any organisation, nor become as prolific as some gTLDs such as .com
Test top level domains (tTLD)
Also known as a reserved TLD, these are used for testing and development only and cannot be deployed as a TLD for public use. There are four main types of tTLD: .test, .example, .invalid and .localhost.
Each serves a similar purpose – to try out website or application configurations within a controlled environment – without risking interfering or conflicting with existing production domains. They also offer a safe environment so devs can work on projects without the risk of being exposed to bad actors on the internet.
Infrastructure top level domain
Note the singular use of domain as there is only one – ARPA (Address and Routing Parameter Area). This domain is exclusively used to conduct infrastructure work, ensuring that the internet as we know it runs smoothly, reliably and efficiently.
Without Infrastructure Top-Level Domains, we would experience a host of serious issues. These would range from servers not being able to find each other to security vulnerabilities increasing on a massive scale. Bottom line? The internet would become chaotic and unmanageable.
When to choose g-TLD vs cc-LTD?
While going with sponsored top level domains is in effect self-selecting – the organisation meets the domain’s strict types and criteria – choosing from other types of TLD requires a more nuanced approach:
Choose generic top level domains
… if you want a domain name with universal appeal and suggests the brand is global in nature.
- gTLDs including .com give credibility to to an enterprise, helping to boost trust levels in the brand.
- A gTLD can help boost SEO rankings so long as it matches – or gets close to matching – the business’s products or services.
- Generic top level domains can bolster brand identities, making them more recognisable and memorable.
Choose country code top level domains
… if you want to appeal to a specific region or country’s citizens via a localised website:
- This allows you to offer content in the country’s language that will appear in country-specific search engine results.
- Feature local currency pricing and region-specific discounting/offers designed for and only available in the targeted region.
- Most importantly? By deploying a cc-TLD, you are showing you respect the local culture and language.
To establish a truly universal presence, consider securing both domain types. Remember, country code top level domains can be deployed as subdomains of generic top level domains.
What are the SEO benefits of top level domains?
Before choosing, another big question for any organisation is: Just how much can a TLD help boost SEO rankings? If choosing from generic top level domains, it won’t technically have a real impact – if at all – with Google. What actually counts here is what the TLD projects to prospects.
For instance, generic top level domains such as .com suggest authority, legitimacy, even trustworthiness, in the minds of customers. Ergo, the greater the chances of the site being visited because of increased click-through rates, which in turn has the potential to improve the brand’s SEO ranking.
With county code top level domains, the relationship with Google is different. The search giant rewards companies that offer content for specific locales. This means Google will surface the site higher up in search engine result pages within that specific region. While the net gains may not be huge, any help with rankings is a boon in this online era where competition is so fierce.
Finally, do remember the global approach – adopt a global generic .TLD with region-specific content provided by subdomains deploying county code top level domains.
How to get a TLD
Reach out to an accredited ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) registrar to source and secure your TLD. For instance, use OVHcloud’s domain name search service to find your TLD by entering the desired domain name in the search bar. This enables you to check availability information and choose the desired domain name/TLD combination.
If that domain name has already been snapped up by another organisation or individual, quality providers like OVHcloud offer access to the secondary market for domain names/TLD. We approach the current domain owner to try and secure the name from them for a fee. If they agree to sell, we manage the entire transaction via a trusted third party and organise domain name/TLD transfers transparently.
OVHcloud and TLD
We offer the simplest and most direct way to manage domain names from renewal to transferring. Use our powerful tools to find your perfect domain name and check if it’s available to purchase. If not, we have extensive aftermarket experience so could be able to secure the domain name for you from its current owner.
