The final segment of a domain name, located to the right of the last dot. It is part of the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy and classifies domains by purpose, location, or type.
Example: In the domain name martech.zone:
zoneis the TLDmartechis the SLD (Second-Level Domain)
Key Points:
- TLDs are managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and are categorized into different types, including:
- Generic TLDs (gTLDs): Commonly used TLDs like
.com,.org,.net, and new ones like.techor.zone. - Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs): Specific to countries or regions, such as
.uk(United Kingdom),.de(Germany), or.jp(Japan). - Sponsored TLDs (sTLDs): Restricted to specific communities or purposes, such as
.edu(educational institutions) or.gov(U.S. government entities).
- Generic TLDs (gTLDs): Commonly used TLDs like
Usage:
- TLDs are often chosen based on the nature of the website, target audience, or location.
- Newer gTLDs allow for creative branding opportunities (e.g.,
.shop,.online,.blog).
Related Terms:
- Domain Name: The complete web address, including both the SLD and TLD.
- SLD (Second-Level Domain): The portion of the domain to the left of the TLD (e.g., “example” in
example.com). - Subdomain: An additional prefix added to a domain name (e.g., “store” in
store.example.com).
