List of Top-Level Domains: TLDs Types

Published: 10 Oct 2025

A TLD, or Top-Level Domain, is the last part of a website’s address, like ‘.com’ or ‘.org’. It helps identify the type of website or its purpose. There are different types of TLDs available, each serving a unique role on the internet. Knowing about these TLDs is important if you want to create a website, as the right TLD can affect your site’s reach and purpose.

Table of Content

TLD Types
How to Choose the Right TLD?
Conclusion
FAQs

So, let us begin!

TLD Types

There are several types of top-level domains (TLDs) available. Here are the main types listed:

Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)
Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs)
Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs)
Infrastructure Top-Level Domains
Reserved Top-Level Domains
New Generic Top-Level Domains (New gTLDs)

Let’s explore the world of top-level domains (TLDs), carefully learning about every type.

Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)

Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) are the most common type of domains you see every day. These don’t belong to any specific country. You can use them from anywhere in the world. Domains like .com, .org, and .net fall into this group. They usually tell what kind of website it is, for example, a business, a non-profit, or a network. Some of these are open for everyone, while others, like .gov or .edu, are only for special groups such as governments or schools.

Here are some of the most commonly used gTLDs:

.com: Commercial organizations: Short for “commercial,” it is the most popular and widely recognized gTLD used for commercial and non-commercial websites.
.org: Non-profit organizations: Originally intended for nonprofit organizations, it is now commonly used by a wide range of entities, including nonprofits, community groups, and open-source projects.
.net: Network infrastructures: Originally intended for network infrastructure, it is now used by various types of websites, including internet service providers, tech companies, and networking organizations.
.edu: Educational institutions (restricted use): Reserved for accredited educational institutions, such as universities, colleges, and schools.
.gov: Government entities (restricted use): Reserved for government entities, including federal, state, and local government agencies.
.mil: Military organizations (restricted use): Reserved for military organizations, typically used by branches of the armed forces and related entities, with restricted use.
.int: International organizations (restricted use): Reserved for international organizations established by treaties, agreements, or conventions between multiple nations, with restricted use.
.info: Informational websites: Suitable for informational websites, including blogs, news portals, and general information resources.
.biz: Business-related websites: Designed for business-related websites, it is commonly used by companies, organizations, and individuals involved in commercial activities.
.name: Personal websites: It is intended for personal websites and is suitable for individuals looking to create a unique online presence using their name.
.pro: Certified professionals (restricted use): Restricted to certified professionals, it allows licensed individuals to showcase their expertise in their respective fields.
.museum: Museums and related entities: Reserved for museums and related entities, it denotes websites associated with cultural institutions and exhibits.
.coop: Cooperatives: Used by cooperatives, it signifies businesses or organizations that operate based on cooperative principles and values.
.aero: Aerospace industry: Specifically for the aerospace industry, it is used by aviation-related businesses, organizations, and professionals.
.jobs: Employment-related websites: Dedicated to employment-related websites, it serves as a platform for job listings, career resources, and HR-related content.
.travel: Travel and tourism industry: It is exclusive to the travel and tourism industry, but businesses and organizations involved in travel services, destinations, and accommodations can use it.
.mobi: Mobile devices and services: Geared towards mobile devices and services, it signifies websites optimized for mobile browsing and mobile-focused content.
.tel: Internet communication services: It is primarily used for internet communication services and provides a platform for individuals and businesses to share contact information and online identities.
.cat: Catalan language and culture: It represents the Catalan language and culture and is used by individuals, organizations, and businesses associated with Catalonia and Catalan-speaking regions.
.post: Postal services (restricted use): Limited to postal services, it is reserved for official postal operators and organizations involved in the postal industry.
.xxx: Adult entertainment (restricted use): Restricted to adult entertainment, it denotes websites and content related to the adult industry and is subject to strict usage policies.

2. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs)

Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) are linked to countries or regions. Each country has its own two-letter code, such as .uk for the United Kingdom or .pk for Pakistan. These domains show where the website is based or who it mainly serves. Businesses often use them to target local visitors in their country. For example, a store in India may use .in to show it is an Indian website.

Here is a list of popular ccTLDs:

.us: United States: The .us top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in the United States.
.uk: United Kingdom: The .uk top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in the United Kingdom.
.de: Germany: The .de top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Germany.
.cn: China: The .cn top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in China.
.jp: Japan: The .jp top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Japan.
.ru: Russia: The .ru top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Russia.
.br: Brazil: The .br top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Brazil.
.au: Australia: The .au top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Australia.
.ca: Canada: The .ca top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Canada.
.fr: France: The .fr top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in France.
.in: India: The .in top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in India.
.it: Italy: The .it top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Italy.
.kr: South Korea: The .kr top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in South Korea.
.mx: Mexico: The .mx top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Mexico.
.nl: Netherlands: The .nl top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in the Netherlands.
.se: Sweden: The .se top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Sweden.
.ch: Switzerland: The .ch top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Switzerland.
.za: South Africa: The .za top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in South Africa.
.es: Spain: The .es top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Spain.
.tw: Taiwan: The .tw top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Taiwan.
.pk: Pakistan: The .pk top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in Pakistan.
.ae: United Arab Emirates: The .ae top-level domain is used to represent websites associated with entities or individuals in the United Arab Emirates.

3. Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs)

Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs) are managed by specific groups or organizations. Each one is created for a special purpose or community. For instance, .museum is only for museums, .aero is for the aviation industry, and .cat is for the Catalan language and culture. These domains have rules, and only approved members of that community or industry can use them.

Here are some of the most commonly used sTLDs:

.gov: U.S. Government entities: Used by U.S. Government entities, including federal, state, and local government agencies.
.edu: U.S. Educational Institutions: Used by U.S. Educational institutions, such as universities, colleges, and schools.
.mil: U.S. Military organizations: Used by U.S. Military organizations, including branches of the armed forces.
.int: International organizations: Used by International organizations established by treaty.
.aero: Aerospace industry: Used by the Aerospace industry, including companies, organizations, and individuals related to aviation and aerospace.
.museum: Museums and related entities: Used by Museums and related entities, including galleries, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions.
.cat: Catalan language and culture: Used to represent Catalan language and culture, typically associated with websites related to Catalan-speaking communities.
.post: Postal services (restricted use): It is used for postal services, but its use is restricted and is primarily reserved for the Universal Postal Union and its members.

4. Infrastructure Top-Level Domains

Infrastructure Top-Level Domains are not for normal websites. They are used for the technical part of the internet. These domains help control how websites connect and work behind the scenes. For example, .arpa is used for internet infrastructure and address mapping. Regular users don’t use these domains, they are important for keeping the internet running smoothly.

Here are some examples of infrastructure top-level domains:

.arpa: Originally designated for the Address and Routing Parameter Area, it is now used for internet infrastructure-related purposes, including reverse DNS mapping.
.root: Reserved for the authoritative servers that form the root zone of the Domain Name System (DNS).
.int: Primarily used by international treaty-based organizations and entities.
.uri.arpa: It is used for mapping Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) to DNS names and is often used for emerging protocols and technologies.

5. Reserved Top-Level Domains

Reserved Top-Level Domains are set aside for testing, examples, or internal use. They are not open for anyone to register. For example, .example is used to show how domain names work in guides, and .test is used for practice websites. Others like .localhost are used for testing on personal computers. These domains make it safe for developers to test websites without going live on the internet.

Here are some examples of reserved top-level domains:

.example: Reserved for use in documentation and examples: The .example top-level domain is specifically reserved for use in documentation, illustrations, and examples to demonstrate the structure and functionality of domain names.
.invalid: Reserved for invalid domain names: The .invalid top-level domain is reserved for use in documentation or testing environments to represent invalid or non-existent domain names.
.localhost: Reserved for loopback IP addresses: The .localhost top-level domain refers to the loopback IP address (127.0.0.1) on a local machine used for testing and development.
.test: Reserved for testing purposes: The .test top-level domain is reserved for use in testing scenarios and is not meant for production use.
.onion: Tor network (anonymous hidden services): The .onion top-level domain is used to access websites or services hosted on the Tor network, providing anonymity and encryption for internet users.
.i2p: I2P anonymous network: The .i2p top-level domain is used for websites or services within the I2P (Invisible Internet Project) network, which focuses on providing anonymous communication and decentralized access to content.

6. New Generic Top-Level Domains (New gTLDs)

New Generic Top-Level Domains (New gTLDs) are newer versions of the common ones. They were made to give people more choices beyond .com or .net. These domains let websites show their purpose more clearly. For example, .shop is perfect for online stores, .blog for writers, and .tech for technology websites. These help websites stand out and make their topic easy to understand at first glance.

Some examples of new gTLDs include:

.app: Intended for mobile apps and developers.
.blog: Geared towards bloggers and online publications.
.shop: Designed for e-commerce and online shopping websites.
.music: Dedicated to the music industry and musicians.
.tech: Targeted towards technology-related websites and businesses.
.guru: Meant for experts, consultants, and professionals.
.club: Suitable for social clubs, interest groups, and communities.
.photography: Specifically for photographers and photography-related websites.
.design: Geared towards designers, artists, and creative professionals.
.travel: Intended for the travel industry, including travel agencies and tourism-related websites.

How to Choose the Right TLD?

Choosing the right TLD is very important. It affects how users see your website and how easily they can remember it.

Here are some simple tips:

For businesses: Use “.com”; it’s the most trusted and common.
For non-profits or communities: “.org” is a great choice.
For education or learning: Go for “.edu” if you qualify.
For local reach: Pick your country code, like “.pk” for Pakistan or “.uk” for the UK.
For special industries: Try new gTLDs like “.shop,” “.tech,” or “.design.”
For privacy or testing: Avoid using reserved or restricted TLDs.

Always choose a TLD that matches your site’s purpose and audience.

Conclusion

In this guide, we explored the types of TLDs, from common ones like “.com” to country codes like “.pk” and special ones like “.edu” or “.gov”. Each TLD has its own purpose and meaning. If you’re starting a website, pick a TLD that fits your goals. For example, a local store can use its country code, while a global business should use “.com”. Choosing the right TLD builds trust, improves your online identity, and helps users find you more easily.

That’s all about the different types of TLDs! Now you know how to choose the best one for your website. Good luck, and happy website building!

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions related to the top-level domain types:

What’s the difference between gTLDs and new gTLDs?

gTLDs are older and well-known extensions like ‘.com’ or ‘.org’. New gTLDs were introduced later and offer more specific options, like ‘.shop’ or ‘.blog’. Both types serve the same purpose, but new gTLDs give more variety for different industries or interests.

Can I choose any TLD I want for my website?

Most TLDs are available for anyone to use, but some are restricted, like ‘.gov’ or ‘.edu’. These are reserved for government or educational websites. You need to meet certain requirements to use restricted TLDs.

Do TLDs affect my website’s ranking in search engines?

TLDs alone don’t directly impact rankings, but choosing a relevant TLD can help with user trust and click-through rates. For example, using a local ccTLD like ‘.uk’ may help your site appear more local to users.

Why do some websites have ‘.com’ while others have ‘.org’?

‘.com’ is often used for business or commercial sites, while ‘.org’ is usually for non-profit or community organizations. There are no strict rules, but many organizations prefer to follow these traditional uses.

What is the difference between ccTLDs and gTLDs?

ccTLDs are specific to countries, like ‘.us’ for the United States or ‘.jp’ for Japan. gTLDs, like ‘.com’ or ‘.net,’ are general and not tied to any country. ccTLDs help show where a website is based or who it serves, while gTLDs focus more on purpose.

Can I use a country code TLD if my business isn’t in that country?

Some ccTLDs are open to anyone, but others are restricted to businesses or individuals from that country. You would need to check the rules for the specific ccTLD.

What happens if I choose the wrong TLD for my website?

Choosing the wrong TLD might confuse users about your website’s purpose. For example, using ‘.org’ for a business might make people think you’re a non-profit. It’s important to pick a TLD that matches your site’s content or goals.

Are reserved TLDs ever available to the public?

No, reserved TLDs like ‘.example’ or ‘.localhost’ are specifically set aside for certain uses, like testing or examples. They are not available for regular website registrations.

Why are some TLDs restricted, like ‘.gov’ or ‘.edu’?

Some TLDs are restricted to make sure they are only used by trusted organizations, like governments or schools. These rules ensure that only qualified groups can use them.

Is there any advantage to using a new gTLD over a traditional one like ‘.com’?

A new gTLD can make your website stand out with a specific name, like ‘.shop’ for an online store. It may also be easier to find the domain name you want with a new gTLD since many traditional ones have already been taken.