Glossary

TLD

Definition: Top-Level Domain — the last part of a domain name (e.g. .com, .org, .net, .uk) that indicates its category or country.

A TLD (Top-Level Domain) is the rightmost part of a domain name — the segment after the last dot. In example.com, .com is the TLD. TLDs are managed by ICANN and delegated to registry operators who maintain the TLD's zone file.

Types of TLDs

  • gTLDs (Generic TLDs) — Original: .com, .net, .org, .edu, .gov, .mil. Newer gTLDs since 2013: .app, .io, .dev, .tech, .store, .blog — over 1,200 available.
  • ccTLDs (Country-Code TLDs) — Two-letter codes for countries: .uk, .de, .fr, .au, .jp. Some ccTLDs (.io, .ai, .co) have become popular as generic domains.
  • sTLDs (Sponsored TLDs) — Restricted to specific communities: .gov (US government), .edu (US universities), .mil (US military).

Choosing a TLD

  • .com — Most trusted globally; preferred for commercial sites. Highest resale value.
  • Country ccTLD — Signals local presence; can help with local SEO.
  • Niche gTLD — .io for tech startups, .app for applications, .shop for e-commerce.

TLD and SEO

Google treats all generic TLDs equally for search ranking purposes. A .app domain is not penalised compared to .com. However, .com benefits from higher user trust and click-through rates in search results.

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