A website is essential if you want to take your existing business online or start a new one. But before it goes live, you’ll need a domain name for it. A domain name is what you type in the browser window to find a website. For example, the domain name for Google is Google.com. 

Before registering a domain name, it is important to pick an appropriate TLD Top-Level Domain for your business. A TLD is the last part of a domain name after dot, such as ‘.com’, ‘.org’, ‘.net’, and so on.  

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) manages TLDs. It is a non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the processes and maintenance of several databases  on the internet, ensuring a secure and stable connection. It manages TLDs via IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), meaning, IANA is a division of ICANN.  

Typically, there are two different types of top-level domains – ccTLDs (country code Top-Level Domains) and gTLDs (generic Top-Level Domains). Let us look at each of them. 

ccTLDs 

A ccTLD (country code top-level domain) is a two-character domain extension that indicates the relation of a website to country. Hence, the name country code TLD. They are derived from ISO 3166, a standard published by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) that defines the codes for countries, special areas of geographical interest, and dependent territories. A few examples of ccTLDs are:  

  • .us domain – USA 
  • .in domain – India 
  • .uk domain – United Kingdom 
  • .eu domain – European Union 
  • .fr – France 

They are further divided into closed ccTLDs and open ccTLDs. Find out what sets them apart below. 

Closed ccTLDs 

Many ccTLDs are restricted in the way they can be used, or we can say, who can use them. Registration for ccTLD domains pertains to a standard process that the organisation in charge of that country follows. These processes vary from country to country – while some necessitate local corporate registration, others may need the proof of residency. Examples of closed ccTLDs include – Australia’s .AU, Bermuda’s .BM, Germany’s .DE, and Canada’s .CA. 

Open ccTLDs 

Certain ccTLDs have opened their namespaces, and anyone from anywhere in the world can register them. These are known as open ccTLDs and are used as a creative branding tool rather than represent a particular territory or country. A few examples of open ccTLDs are – Cocos Island’s .CC, Colombia’s .CO (often marketed as a short form of company or corporation), and Samoa’s .WS. 

gTLDs 

A gTLD, is a domain extension with three or more characters. Unlike ccTLDs, gTLDs are not limited in any way, and anyone from anywhere can register for them.  

A few examples of gTLDs are:  

  • .com – short for commercial 
  • .net – short for network 
  • .org – short for organisation 
  • .info – short for information 

As the internet space is expanding at a tremendous rate, this can mean serious trouble for the businesses trying to find web address within the realms of .net, .org, .com or .info. Because of this, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) introduced over 1500 new generic top-level domains to help niche businesses and stand out amongst the countless websites while expressing their distinctive identity. These new gTLDs include .clothing, .holdings, .bike,. shop, .app, .ventures and many more. 

Get the Right Domain for Your Website Today! 

Now that you know the difference between ccTLD and gTLD, it’s easier for you to get a suitable domain name for your website. Explore a wide range of domain names with TLDs like .com, in BigRock. We also provide domain names at a reasonable price along with a range of free services like DNS management, a user-friendly control panel, 2 free email accounts, domain theft protection, and domain forwarding. So, buy a domain name and start building your website today! 

 

Related Article:

What is a TLD? Top Level Domains and its Types Explained