What is a gTLD?¶
gTLDs (or generic top-level domain names) are the most common kind of top-level domain names, and the ones we’re most used to seeing. They function as part of the internet system we use to help us map and remember a website’s numerical IP addresses - also called the Domain Name System (DNS). gTLDs have three or more characters and follow the ‘dot’ part of the address e.g. .com, .org etc.
We use gTLDs essentially because they allow us to gather more information about the site that we’re visiting; for example, they can give us information about the business, what it does and its location.
Traditionally there have only been about a dozen to choose from, but between 2013 and 2015 ICANN (the body that oversee domain names) could roll out close to 1,400 specialised extensions.
This table shows the standard gTLDs, and so you can keep on top of the new releases we’re posting them on our blog too.
gTLD |
Intended Use |
|---|---|
aero |
The air transport industry |
asia |
Companies, organisations and individuals in the Asia-Pacific region |
biz |
Business Use |
cat |
Catalan language/culture |
com |
Commercial organisations, but unrestricted |
coop |
Cooperatives |
edu |
Post-secondary educational establishments |
gov |
US government entities at the federal, state and local levels |
info |
Informational sites but unrestricted |
int |
International organisations established by treaty |
jobs |
Employment-related sites |
mil |
The US military |
mobi |
Sites catering to mobile devices |
museum |
Museums |
name |
Families and individuals |
net |
Originally for network infrastructures, now unrestricted |
org |
Originally for organisations not clearly falling under other gTLDs, now unrestricted |
post |
Postal services |
pro |
Certain professions |
tel |
Services involving the connections between telephone network and the internet |
travel |
Travel agents, airlines, hoteliers, tourism bureaus etc. |