The Domain Name System (DNS) allows users to type words instead of numeric web addresses. Top-level domains are the last part of a domain name and fall into different categories. DNS is administered by ICANN and allows companies to brand themselves more effectively. Generic and country code top-level domains are available, and individuals can register new domain names. Creative top-level domain names are possible, as seen with Delicious registering the icio.us domain.
Under the Domain Name System (DNS) which is used to allow people to type words instead of numeric web addresses to reach a particular website, a top-level domain is the last part of a domain name, after the trailing period. Here at wiseGEEK, for example, the top-level domain is “com”. Top-level domains fall into a number of different categories, depending on who is authorized to use them.
The DNS system was conceived as Internet use expanded, and researchers realized that having to type numerical addresses could be difficult for some users. With this system, administered by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), users can type words or assortments of characters that are easier to remember than strings of numbers. Each domain includes a top level, a second level, and a third level or subdomain.
The creation of domain names has also allowed companies to brand themselves more effectively. Instead of telling people interested in Volkswagon cars to go to a specific numerical address, for example, the company could tell customers to go to volkswagon.com. DNS is sometimes compared to the address book, because it allows people to look up a person, product or service by name, rather than having to remember the correct number.
A web address like www.wisegeek.com is considered a domain name. The first part of the address, the “www”, is the third level or subdomain. “wisegeek” is the second level and “com” is the top level domain. Individual domain owners can create multiple subdomains under their second-level domain, such as the “example” subdomain at example.wisegeek.com. Many people refer to second-level domains as “domain names” because often people refer to sites for just the second-level domain. However, multiple sites may have the same second-level and different top-level domains, making it important to specify a domain name in full to avoid confusion.
Top-level domains such as “com”, “org” and “net” are generic. Anyone can register domain names in any of these top-level domains. Some other generic top-level domain options like “edu”, “gov” and “mil” are limited to people who can demonstrate a legitimate reason to use them. Top-level domains sorted by country code, such as “ie” for Ireland, are also available, as are sponsored domains controlled by various industries.
When someone wants to register a new domain name, they can choose a top-level domain, assuming those domain names have not already been taken and they are authorized to use a certain domain. Some people like to get creative with top-level domain names, as was the case with social bookmarking site Delicious, which registered the icio.us domain so it could create the subdomain “del” and hyphenate del.icio.us with its domain name.
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