{"id":23507,"date":"2019-08-28T06:16:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T11:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=23507"},"modified":"2019-08-27T18:17:01","modified_gmt":"2019-08-27T23:17:01","slug":"what-is-domain-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/what-is-domain-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Domain Extension?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When the time comes to buy a domain name<\/a> for your new website or online project, you\u2019re going to have a lot of different things to take into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only do you have to find the perfect domain name<\/a> for your website or business, but you have to find the right domain name extension, too. This can be difficult, especially when you\u2019re not sure what a domain name extension actually is?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily for you, domain name extensions are an easy concept to understand. The most challenging part about domain name extensions is choosing the right one that\u2019ll represent your website in the best light possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have ever asked yourself, 'What is a domain extension?'\u009d you have come to the right place. Below we cover the ins and outs of domain name extensions, as well as their interesting history, so that you can choose the right one for your new website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is a Domain Extension?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Domain name extensions are the last part of a domain name<\/a>. For example, in '\u02dchostgator.com,\u2019 the domain name extension is .com. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also see domain name extensions referred to as top-level domains<\/a> (TLDs). These terms will be used interchangeably throughout the post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few different types of domain name extensions<\/a> available:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Generic Domain Extensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These are the most common form of domain extension. For a while you could only choose between .com, .org, and .net. But, in recent years the number of generic top-level domains has exploded. Now you\u2019ll find a lot of unique top-level domain names to choose from like .beer, .blog, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Sponsored Domain Extensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This style of domain extension is restricted to certain types of organizations and groups. To register this style of TLD you\u2019ll need to satisfy certain requirements and there are restrictions on who can register these domains. Common examples of this are the .aero, .gov, and .edu domain extensions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Generic-Restricted Domain Extensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This type of 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<\/a> you\u2019ll typically need to provide a bit more information about your website and it\u2019s intended purpose. Some examples of this TLD include .name and .pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Country Code Domain Extensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lastly we have country-code domain extensions. Each country has its own TLD that helps to identify that site as being from a specific country. Common extensions include .co, .uk, and .us. However, these extensions are more flexible and can be used for more than just identifying locations. For example, the domain extension .co is the TLD for Colombia, but it\u2019s also used by businesses and startups the world over.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brief History of Domain Extensions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you were trying to access a website in the early 1980\u2019s you would have had to type in a long string of numbers known as an IP address<\/a>. The only way that early computers were able to communicate on this network was by using these numerical IP addresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having to type in these strings of numbers was inefficient and a definite hindrance on allowing the web to scale. It was a far cry from the consumer web that has become a routine part of our lives today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, things have come a long way since then. Thanks to the Domain Name System (DNS), we can now type easy to remember domain names into our web address bars to access whatever website we desire. Instead of having to type in a complicated IP web address, we type in a domain name like '\u02dcgoogle.com<\/em>\u2019 or '\u02dchostgator.com<\/em>.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the same time as the new DNS came into effect, so did domain name extensions. These were used to help classify domain names into specific groups. The first six domain name extensions created were .com, .org, .net, .edu, .gov, and .mil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When these were first created, there were rigid rules about what kind of websites could use these domain name extensions. Today these rules are much more relaxed, and hundreds of different domain name extensions have come into existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The introduction of domain name extensions made accessing the web much easier. It wasn\u2019t the sole factor that led to the explosion of the internet, but it certainly did help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up until 2008, there were only around 28 different domain name extensions you could choose between. However, the TLD system changed dramatically when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) allowed anyone with enough money to apply to create their own top-level domain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of massive corporations jumped on this and applied for top-level domain names that could be used in conjunction with their own brand. Think companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different Types of Domain Name Extensions Available<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today there are thousands of different domain name extensions for you to choose from. Luckily, not all of these will apply to your website, so there\u2019s no need to get overwhelmed in your search for the perfect TLD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a breakdown of the most common domain name extensions available today that you can use for your new website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n