TLD stands for Top-Level Domain, which is the last segment of a domain name, found after the final dot. For example, in the domain “example.com,” the “.com” part is the TLD. TLDs are a key part of internet addresses and help categorize websites based on their purpose, location, or type of organization.
There are several types of TLDs:
- Generic TLDs (gTLDs): These are the most common, including extensions like .com, .org, and .net, which are not tied to any specific geographic location.
- Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs): These are specific to countries or regions, like .uk for the United Kingdom or .ca for Canada.
- Sponsored TLDs (sTLDs): These are restricted to certain groups or industries, like .gov for government websites or .edu for educational institutions.
TLDs play an important role in branding and SEO. A well-chosen TLD can signal the type of content on a website and affect user trust. For instance, .org is often associated with nonprofits, while .com is generally seen as commercial.