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The internet is a big place, and every site needs a way for visitors to locate them. A site’s domain acts as its virtual address, leading people from all over the world to your site.
But just like an address, no two domains are exactly the same. Not only do they feature different wording, but they also have a unique ending.
While you may have overlooked this part of the domain before, this ending is known as the domain extension, or top-level domain, and it’s an important part of determining a domain’s unique identity.
What is a domain?
If you think of a website as a house, where content such as a blog, photo galleries, products in a store live, the domain is the address used to locate it. This is just like the street and number used to locate a house.
We’re focusing on the top-level domain portion specifically, but for clarity, a domain is composed of a few key pieces:
The protocol (such as “https://”)
The subdomain (such as “www.”)
The domain (such as Squarespace in squarespace.com)
The domain extension (top-level domain, for example, “.com”)
Domain extensions or top-level domains (TLDs)
A top-level domain, or TLD, is the end of the URL, which follows the last period. These are sometimes called domain extensions.
There are many different types of domain extensions. Among the most common you may have seen are .com, .org, and .net. The extension for a domain can be up to preference, or be related to a specific service, business, or even location.
Domain names are sold by domain registrars, which are like car rental agencies for URLs. When you get a domain, you register it for a specific period. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages much of this process, ensuring that registrars follow certain standards and enforcing the different types of TLD categories.
Register a domain through Squarespace
Types of domain extensions
As mentioned, there are a few different types of domain extensions. While .com or .net are generally up to preference and availability, certain extensions denote a specific service, associate, or location. Some common types include:
Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs): Like .com and .net
Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs): Like .edu or .gov
Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLDs): Like .ca, co.uk, ,jp, .de, .ru, and .us
The most popular top-level domains include easily recognizable gTLDs like .com and ccTLDs like .ca.
A site with a sTLD or ccTLD will still needs to meet certain requirements, but a gTLD is up to your preference. Most domains for public use fall under the gTLD category, though this will depend on your individual situation.
How to choose the right domain extension
While top-level domains used to have very specific purposes, many restrictions have been lifted as more have been created over time. For example, .io was originally a ccTLD for the British Indian Ocean Territory, but is now a gTLD due to popular usage.
Currently, there are a few factors that go into selecting the TLD that best fits a site’s needs. These can relate to the specific business type, branding style, or even just whichever one you think looks best.
While many standard businesses and entities will likely use a .com, or .net domain, some things to consider when determining the extension for a site include:
Your site’s purpose: For example is the site for a business, or primarily informational? Maybe a .info TLD could fit.
Your brand’s style: If your brand is more serious or professional, a .com or other standard TLD is more fitting than something like .party.
The target audience of your site or business: Similar to your brand style, it’s important to know what your ideal visitor will respond to best.
Whether this is a nonprofit: .org is a common TLD for nonprofits, though it’s available for anyone to use. Depending on your organization, you might qualify for a .ngo or .ong TLD, but there are restrictions.
The type of service or product: For example, a restaurant might choose a .food or .pizza TLD.
Your global location: Some TLDs are more common in certain locations, like .jp for Japanese websites or .ca in Canada.
Your budget: Domains and TLDs are relatively inexpensive, but some cost more than others.
With the above in mind, if you run an eccentric shoe-making business for example, registering a .shoes domain could be memorable and simple.
Learn how to choose a domain name
Does the TLD affect SEO?
Speaking of being able to remember or locate a site, top-level domains do not directly affect a site’s search engine optimization (SEO) ranking. However, complicated TLDs can prevent visitors from successfully searching for and finding your site. If a domain name is difficult to remember, it will likely be difficult to search for as well.
Choosing a TLD that makes your site seem less trustworthy or legitimate can also impact your SEO. This isn’t likely to impact your site if you follow best practices, but if you choose a less common or recognizable TLD, people may be less likely to click on it, which can lower your search ranking.
When registering a domain we recommend picking something easy to pronounce and remember, such as your name, or your business name. If you need help with ideas, our domain name generator can help with brainstorming additional names based on a description of your business.
Learn more about optimizing your website’s SEO
Can you use more than one domain extension for a single site?
Yes, any site can have multiple domains pointing to it, including variations with a different TLD. This is something business owners and brands do if someone else originally owned the domain they wanted. Once they’re able to claim it, they can own it and redirect it to their current website domain.
Other business owners might want to have a more playful domain name, but hold onto a more standard TLD to be safe. So for that shoe brand owner above, it could be helpful to register a standard .com domain, but also the .shoes TLD to help keep their site easy to discover.