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→TLD Growth - Overview from 1983 to 2021
The [[Domain Name System|domain name system]] allows users to refer to websites and other Internet resources using names rather than the all-numeric IP addresses assigned to each computer on the Internet. Each domain name consists of a series of character strings separated by dots. The right-most string is the '''top-level domain (TLD)'''. Every TLD is managed by a single [[:Category:Registries|registry]].
The '''top-level domain (TLD)''' is the right-most string, or series of characters, in every [[URL|web address]]. The [[Domain Name System|domain name system]] allows users to refer to websites and other Internet resources using names rather than the all-numeric IP addresses assigned to each computer on the Internet. Every TLD is managed by a single [[:Category:Registries|registry]].
==TLD Growth - Overview from 1983 to 2021==
==TLD Growth - Overview from 1983 to 2021==
! Dates !! TLDs !! Use !! Reason !! Significance
! Dates !! TLDs !! Use !! Reason !! Significance
|-
|-
| 1983 || [[.no]] || [[ccTLD|country code TLD]] || Restricted to use by entities in Norway || The first ccTLD
| 1983 || [[.no]] || [[ccTLD|country code TLD]] || Restricted to use by entities in Norway || The first two-letter country code based on the [[ISO 3166-1]]
|-
|-
| October 1984 || [[.com]], [[.net]], [[.org]] || Open || Any person or entity is permitted to register a domain name using these TLDs|| The first [[gTLD]]s
| October 1984 || [[.com]], [[.net]], [[.org]] || Open || Any person or entity is permitted to register a domain name using these TLDs|| The first [[gTLD]]s
| October 1984 || [[.edu]], [[.gov]], [[.mil]] || Limited; [[sTLD|an entity has sponsored the operation of this TLD]] || For higher educational institutions, United States governmental entities and agencies, and divisions, services and agencies of the United States Department of Defense, respectively || The first [[gTLD]]s
| October 1984 || [[.edu]], [[.gov]], [[.mil]] || Limited; [[sTLD|an entity has sponsored the operation of this TLD]] || For higher educational institutions, United States governmental entities and agencies, and divisions, services and agencies of the United States Department of Defense, respectively || The first [[gTLD]]s
|-
|-
| 1985 || [[.us]], [[.uk]] [[.il]] || ccTLDs || USA, UK, Israel || The second, third, and fourth ccTLDs
| 1985 || [[.us]], [[.uk]] [[.il]] || ccTLDs || USA, UK, Israel || GB is the UK's [[ISO 3166]] country code. However, [[JANET NRS]] defined UK as the top-level domain a few months before the ISO-derived list; it was registered on July 24, 1985.
|-
|-
| 1986 || [[.au]], [[.de]], [[.fi]], [[.fr]], [[.is]], [[.kr]], [[.nl]], [[.se]] || ccTLDs || Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden || The next eight ccTLDs
| 1986 || [[.au]], [[.de]], [[.fi]], [[.fr]], [[.is]], [[.kr]], [[.nl]], [[.se]] || ccTLDs || Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden || The next eight ccTLDs
| April 2011 || [[.xxx]] || Sponsored gTLD || || [[ICM Registry]] had submitted proposals for this sTLD for pornographic sites since 2000
| April 2011 || [[.xxx]] || Sponsored gTLD || || [[ICM Registry]] had submitted proposals for this sTLD for pornographic sites since 2000
|-
|-
| June 20, 2011 || || || || [[ICANN Board]] votes to dramatically increase the number of gTLDs from the 22 already in operation
| June 20, 2011 || [[.post]] || sTLD || last TLD before New TLD Program || [[ICANN Board]] votes to dramatically increase the number of gTLDs from the 22 already in operation
|-
|-
| January 12, 2012 || || [[Community TLD|community]] or standard || applicant decides if the nTLD is for a defined community consisting of a restricted population; the distinction between sponsored/unsponsored TLDs is deemed irrelevant to this round of nTLDs ||The application window for [[All New gTLD Applications]] opens
| January 12, 2012 || || [[Community TLD|community]] or standard || applicant decides if the nTLD is for a defined community consisting of a restricted population; the distinction between sponsored/unsponsored TLDs is deemed irrelevant to this round of nTLDs ||The application window for [[All New gTLD Applications]] opens
|-
|-
| June 13, 2012 || -- || -- || -- || Reveal Day: '''1,930''' applications for new gTLDs submitted; '''751''' of which were contested
| June 13, 2012 || [[.scot]] || community nTLD application || for Scottish culture || Reveal Day: [[All New gTLD Applications|1,930 applications for new gTLDs submitted]]; '''751''' of which were contested
|-
|-
| July 15, 2013 || [[.сайт]], [[.онлайн]], [[.شبكة]], [[.游戏]] || -- || -- || First four [[IDN]] nTLD aggreements signed
| July 15, 2013 || [[.сайт]], [[.онлайн]], [[.شبكة]], [[.游戏]] || [[IDN]] nTLDs || (xn--80aswg) – Russian for "site"; (xn--80asehdb) – Russian for "online"شبكة (xn--ngbc5azd) – Arabic for "web/network"; (xn--unup4y) – Chinese for "game(s)" || First four nTLD aggreements signed
|-
|-
| November 9, 2014 || -- || -- || -- || 400th gTLD was delegated
| September 15, 2014 || [[.prof]] || -- || -- || 400th nTLD was delegated
|-
|-
| 20 May 2017 || [[ccTLD]]s || -- || -- || 255 ccTLDs delegated
| 20 May 2017 || [[ccTLD]]s || -- || -- || 255 ccTLDs delegated
| June 2020 || [[IDN]] ccTLDs || -- || -- || 61 IDN ccTLDs approved
| June 2020 || [[IDN]] ccTLDs || -- || -- || 61 IDN ccTLDs approved
|-
|-
| March 2021 || -- || -- || -- || [[IANA]] lists 1589 TLDs (1503 in use, 67 not assigned/revoked, 8 retired, 11 test domains)
| October 17, 2020 || [[.spa]] || nTLD || latest delegated nTLD || [[IANA]] lists 1589 TLDs (1503 in use, 67 not assigned/revoked, 8 retired, 11 test domains)
|}
|}
There are different types of TLDs.
There are different types of TLDs.
===[[gTLD]]s===
===[[gTLD]]s===
*[[gTLD|the original generic top-level domains]]
*[[sTLD]]s - has a sponsor for a specific purpose, such as to represent a specific ethnic community, professional group, or geographical location.
*[[All New gTLD Applications|nTLD]]s - domains that were introduced beginning in October 2013
*[[community TLD]]s relate to local events, gatherings, organizations, or communities, in essence replacing sTLDs
*[[geoTLD]]s represent geographical or regional areas that are not countries with three or more ASCII characters.
*[[brand TLD]]s - corporations use their corporate name as their website's top-level identifier instead of .com or .biz domain space
*[[brand TLD]]s - corporations use their corporate name as their website's top-level identifier instead of .com or .biz domain space
*[[hSTLD]]s
*[[hSTLD]]s
===[[ccTLD]]s===
===[[ccTLD]]s===
[[:Category:CcTLD|Country-code TLDs]] are delegated to a designated [[:Category:CcTLD Registry|ccTLD registry]], which is operated by a [[:Category:CcTLD Manager|ccTLD Manager]], according to local policies that are adapted to meet the economic, cultural, linguistic, and legal circumstances of the country or territory involved.
[[:Category:CcTLD|Country-code TLDs]] are delegated to a designated [[:Category:CcTLD Registry|ccTLD registry]], which is operated by a [[:Category:CcTLD Manager|ccTLD Manager]], according to local policies that are adapted to meet the economic, cultural, linguistic, and legal circumstances of the country or territory involved.
*[[ccTLD|ccTLDs with ASCII characters]]
*[[ccTLD|ccTLDs with ASCII characters]]
:TLDs with two ASCII characters have been established for over 250 countries and external territories.
:TLDs with two ASCII characters have been established for over 250 countries and external territories, including Strings eligible under [[ICANN Board]] Resolution 00.74 (currently this category applies to only one domain, .eu) [https://features.icann.org/2000-09-25-delegation-cctlds ICANN - Board Resolution on the Delegation of ccTLDs], and "Grandfathered" TLDs from prior to 2000, based on "exceptionally reserved" codes in the ISO 3166-1 standard (this category currently applies to two TLDs - .uk and .ac);
*[[IDN ccTLD]]s
*[[IDN ccTLD]]s
:TLDs with non-ASCII characters designated for a country or geographic region.
:TLDs with non-ASCII characters designated for a country or geographic region.
==Reserved Names==
==Reserved Names==
* country code top-level domains
Some domain names are reserved, which means they can only be used (if at all) by the [[:Category:Entities|entities]] for whom they are reserved.
* related to ICANN
* [[ccTLDs|country code top-level domains]]
* related to IANA functions
* [[ICANN|related to ICANN]]
* names of countries and territories
* [[IANA|related to IANA functions]]
* names of international and intergovernmental organizations
* [[:Category:Government|names of countries and territories]]
* names that a registry operator uses to operate the gTLD
* [[:Category:Organizations|names of international and intergovernmental organizations]]
* [[:Category:registries|names that a registry operator uses to operate the gTLD]]
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[[Category: Glossary]]
[[Category: Glossary]]