Top-Level Domain (TLD)

A Top-Level Domain (TLD) is the segment of a domain name that follows the last dot, signifying the highest level of domain names within the hierarchy of the Domain Name System (DNS). TLDs are broadly categorized into two groups: generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as .com, .org, and .net, which are available for general use, and country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs), such as .uk (United Kingdom) and .jp (Japan), which are reserved for specific countries or territories. In addition to these, there are also sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs) that are overseen by private organizations with specific requirements for registration, like .edu for educational institutions. The TLD serves as a key reference point for navigating the internet and has implications for branding, search engine optimization (SEO), and the categorization of websites.