A Top-Level Domain (TLD) is the last segment of a domain name – the part that comes after the final dot. For example, in "domaincheck.co.uk", ".uk" is the TLD, while ".co" is a second-level domain (SLD). Understanding TLDs is essential for web developers, digital marketers, domain investors, SEO professionals, and anyone building an online presence. The right TLD choice can significantly impact brand perception, search visibility, user trust, and domain value.
The Domain Name System (DNS) was introduced in 1985 by Paul Mockapetris, revolutionizing how humans interact with the internet. The original specification (RFC 920) created just six foundational TLDs: .com (commercial), .net (network infrastructure), .org (organizations), .edu (educational institutions), .gov (US government), and .mil (US military).
In those early days, domain registration was free, managed manually by the Network Information Center (NIC). The .com extension quickly emerged as the dominant choice for businesses, establishing a pattern that persists today – despite the existence of 1,500+ alternatives, .com still commands the highest value and trust.
1988 marked a massive expansion with the introduction of country-code TLDs (ccTLDs), assigning two-letter extensions to countries and territories based on ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes. This allowed nations to establish digital sovereignty and enabled geographic targeting for businesses. Today, ccTLDs like .uk (United Kingdom), .de (Germany), .cn (China), and .jp (Japan) rank among the most registered extensions globally.
Open to anyone worldwide without restrictions. The original gTLDs (.com, .net, .org) remain the most popular, but hundreds of new gTLDs now offer specialized options for every industry and purpose.
Two-letter extensions representing 250+ countries and territories. Essential for local SEO, building regional trust, and complying with data sovereignty requirements. Some countries monetize their ccTLD as a revenue source, while others restrict registration to local entities.
Reserved for specific communities with registration restrictions enforced by sponsoring organizations.
Over 1,200 new extensions launched since 2012, offering unprecedented branding and categorization opportunities. Success varies dramatically – some extensions have millions of registrations, while others struggle with adoption.
Only .arpa exists in this category, used exclusively for internet infrastructure purposes including reverse DNS lookups, E.164 number mapping, and other technical internet operations. Not available for public registration.
.tech, .store, .app, and .dev are winning the new gTLD race, driven by clear use cases and strong industry alignment. Tech startups increasingly choose .io or .tech over .com when their preferred .com is unavailable or prohibitively expensive. E-commerce brands embrace .store and .shop for product-specific microsites. Google's ownership of .app and .dev (requiring HTTPS) has driven trust and adoption among developers.
Geographic new gTLDs (.london, .nyc, .tokyo) have seen moderate success for hyper-local businesses but haven't achieved the mass adoption initially predicted. They work well for civic services, local news, and community organizations but struggle to compete with traditional ccTLDs.
Brand TLDs (.google, .amazon, .apple) are primarily used defensively and for specific campaigns rather than replacing primary .com domains. They offer complete control over namespace and eliminate competitors registering similar domains, but consumer familiarity remains limited.
| TLD | Registrations | Type | Typical Price/Year | Key Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .com | 160M+ | gTLD | £8-15 | Global businesses, highest value |
| .cn | 20M+ | ccTLD | £6-12 | China market, local businesses |
| .de | 17M+ | ccTLD | £5-10 | German market, EU businesses |
| .net | 13M+ | gTLD | £8-15 | .com alternative, tech companies |
| .uk | 11M+ | ccTLD | £5-10 | UK businesses, local SEO |
| .org | 10M+ | gTLD | £8-15 | Non-profits, communities |
| .online | 1.2M+ | new gTLD | £15-30 | General purpose, modern |
| .app | 600K+ | new gTLD | £12-20 | Mobile apps, SaaS platforms |
| .io | 500K+ | ccTLD | £25-40 | Tech startups, developers |
| .ai | 300K+ | ccTLD | £60-150 | AI companies, premium branding |
| .tech | 300K+ | new gTLD | £15-35 | Technology companies, blogs |
| .dev | 200K+ | new gTLD | £12-20 | Developers, open source |
Choosing the right TLD is a strategic decision that impacts brand perception, SEO performance, user trust, marketing costs, and long-term domain value. Here's a comprehensive framework for making the optimal choice:
"Google treats all gTLDs equally for ranking purposes. A .com domain has no inherent advantage over .tech or .shop. However, ccTLDs send strong geographic signals and can boost local search rankings significantly."— Google Search Central Documentation
SEO implications of TLD choice:
"This is hands down the most comprehensive TLD list I've ever used. The search functionality is lightning fast, and being able to export in multiple formats saves me hours of work. Essential tool for any developer!"
"Managing a portfolio of 500+ domains, I need accurate, up-to-date TLD data. This tool delivers well. The categorization by continent and industry is brilliant for market research, though I wish there were bulk lookup features."
"The filtering options are incredible. I can quickly find country-specific TLDs for international clients. The fact that it's always updated with the latest TLDs is a huge plus."
"When we were choosing our domain, this tool helped us explore options we never knew existed. The industry filters helped us find the perfect tech-focused TLD for our brand."
"For academic research on internet governance, this is an invaluable resource. The ability to export data in multiple formats, including SQL and JSON, makes integration with our systems seamless."
"The visual periodic table layout makes exploring TLDs actually enjoyable! I've discovered creative domain options for clients that really make their brands stand out in their industries."
"I've been investing in domains for 15 years. This tool has become my daily driver for researching new TLD launches and finding undervalued extensions. The continent and industry filters are game-changers for portfolio diversification."
"We needed to choose TLDs for our global infrastructure. This tool made it simple to compare country-code TLDs across regions. The export to SQL feature worked well with our asset management database."
"Launching stores in 12 countries required understanding ccTLD options for each market. This comprehensive database, combined with the search and filter capabilities, made our domain strategy planning effortless."
"The insights into new gTLDs helped us secure perfect domains for three client campaigns. The ability to see all industry-specific TLDs at once (.law, .tech, .shop) accelerated our domain research significantly."
With thousands of domain tools available, here's what makes our TLD database the #1 choice for developers, domain investors, SEO professionals, and businesses worldwide:
Access to all 1,500+ TLDs including country codes, generic TLDs, new gTLDs, second-level domains, and multi-level extensions. No other free tool offers this depth of coverage.
Synchronized every 24 hours with IANA Root Zone Database, ICANN registry, and Public Suffix List. New TLD delegations appear within 24-48 hours of approval.
Filter by category (popular, country, generic), level (TLD, SLD, multi), continent (250+ countries), and industry (tech, finance, e-commerce, etc.). No other tool offers this granularity.
Download filtered results in CSV, JSON, Excel, TXT, Markdown, or SQL with a single click. Perfect for developers, database integration, research, and automation.
Lightning-fast search with prefix matching (!.co), exact matching (.org! or .org ), and country name lookups. Search 1,500+ TLDs instantly with real-time results.
Unique periodic table-style interface makes browsing TLDs intuitive and enjoyable. Color-coded categories, responsive grid, and one-click copying streamline your workflow.
Clean data structures, machine-readable exports, comprehensive metadata, and API-friendly formats. Designed by domain professionals who understand real-world use cases.
No registration required, no paywalls, no feature limits, no ads disrupting your workflow. Professional-grade TLD data accessible to everyone, always.
Trusted by 50,000+ users worldwide
Developers at Google, Amazon, and Microsoft use domain list tools like ours. Domain investors rely on comprehensive TLD data for portfolio research. SEO agencies filter by country and industry for client campaigns. Startups explore new gTLDs for brand-aligned domains. Security researchers track TLD delegations for threat intelligence.
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