Domain types
Anyone who wants to have a website or an online store will face the task of finding a suitable web address . Not an easy challenge if you take into account the number of options available. On the one hand, you have to think of an original and unique name , for which the second and third level domains play an important role. On the other hand, you require a proper extension . The latter is also known as a top-level domain.
Below, find answers to all your doubts about domain types. What types of Internet extensions exist and what do they mean? How are the different levels within the domain name different? What type of domain is best for your project?
What does a domain consist of?
Thanks to the Internet, devices and services from all over the world can connect with each other. This is possible, among others, by the TCP/IP protocols and the Domain Name System (DNS) .
TCP/IP ensures that every computer, mobile device, and web service available over the Internet has a unique IP address such as 93.184.216.34. Using the nameserver, the DNS system “translates” this address into a domain, such as www.example.org , which is easier for the human eye to read. This process is also called name resolution.
Anyone who wants to access a website or online store via the search bar of browsers such as Firefox or Google Chrome, connect another device to the Internet or connect to a server, contacts these individual web addresses.
Overview: Domain Types
A web address can really be a headache. On the one hand, it is not an easy task to find an attractive name that suits your project. On the other hand, and especially for less experienced web project developers, it is difficult to be clear about the types of domains available and their levels.
Top-level domain:
Top Level Domains (TLDs) represent the highest level of name resolution in the Domain Name System hierarchy. Being located at the top level of the domain, this type of domain, also known as an extension , always appears as the final part of a web address, that is, to the right of the last period. In the case of the domain example used above, the TLD is . org .
IANA , a department of the ICANN organization (founded in 1998), is the entity in charge of managing domain allocation. Consequently, it establishes the types of top-level domains that exist and sells the concession rights to registrars, who in turn negotiate with domain providers the sale of 1,000 extensions to date.
When the first web addresses began to appear, there were only the following seven top-level domains:
| Original Top Level Domain | Original meaning of domain extensions |
| .with | Domain for commercial websites |
| .org | TLD for non-profit organizations |
| .net | Address for Internet Service Providers |
| .int | Very limited outreach to international companies, organizations and programs |
| .edu | For universities and vocational schools |
| .gov | Domain for US government institutions |
| .one thousand | TLD only available to departments, services, and agencies of the US Department of Defense. |
ccTLDs
ccTLDs, also known as country-code top-level domains, form a special category of domain extensions that each country administers. These ccTLDs are made up of two letters, for example, it is for Spain or uk for the United Kingdom. Alongside TLDs for each country, ICANN has also assigned ccTLDs for territories that are dependent on a country, but are geographically separated. Thus, for example, next to the Australian domain .au , there are also ccTLDs for Cocos Islands ( cc ), Christmas Islands ( cx ), Norfold Island ( nf ) or Heard and McDonald Islands ( hm), all of the Australian territories.
Each country can determine the necessary guidelines to register the domain-specific to that country. Small countries with fewer resources have used this fact to their advantage and have commercialized their ccTLD. For example, Tuvalu sold its domain to the DotTV company for $50 million, money that was invested in IT infrastructure. In addition, it was also able to pay the admission fee as a member of the United Nations 189 on September 5, 2000. For more information on this subject, access our article on ccTLDs .
In the following table you can find some examples of ccTLDs:
| ccTLD | Meaning of the extension |
| .ch | Switzerland |
| .cn | China |
| .from | Germany |
| .eg | Egypt |
| .is | Spain |
| .fr | France |
| .it | Italy |
| .ru | Russia |
| .uk | United Kingdom |
| .us | EE. UU |
gTLD
This type of domain, known as a generic top-level domain, differs from the country code top-level domain in the subject area it covers. While ccTLDs are geographic domains, gTLDs are generic domains that are used in different areas. There are two types of gTLDs:
ICANN is responsible for the central management and control of unsponsored gTLDs. To do this, it works jointly with different partners. Initially, these extensions were only granted under certain conditions. For example, the .net domain had to be reserved for Internet service providers. However, this extension is currently also available to other companies and organizations, as well as private individuals. This is also the case with other unsponsored gTLDs.
| Examples of unsponsored gTLDs | The original meaning of the extension |
| .biz | For companies (“business”) |
| .info | Information offer |
| .name | private persons |
| .pro | Special professional groups |
For their part, sponsored gTLDs are subject to the restrictions stipulated by each sponsor. These independent companies or organizations are also responsible for the control and management of gTLDs. An example of a sponsored domain is .gov , which is currently managed by US offices (as a sponsor) and used for US government websites and services.
| Examples of Sponsored gTLDs | Domain extension meaning |
| .gov | US government agencies |
| .one thousand | US Army |
| .aero | Aerospace industry |
| .jobs | Company Job Ads |
New TLDs such as .blog , .web or .beauty , which have been launched since 2013, are also considered generic top-level domains.
Second level domains
A second-level domain is defined as the freely chosen name that precedes the top-level domain. Although it falls under the TLD in the domain hierarchy, the second-level domain is no less important than the extension. In fact, the opposite is happening more and more often: the domain name is becoming more and more important both for users and for search engine positioning, as it can better describe the content of a web page and contain keywords.
In our domain example www.example.org the second-level domain is “example”.
There are even country-specific TLDs, as the examples in the table below demonstrate, with the TLD . uk.
| Country-specific second level example | Meaning of the extension |
| .co.uk | UK Business Websites |
| .gov.uk | Central and regional government agencies and services in the United Kingdom |
| .me.uk | Private persons in the UK |
| .sch.uk | Schools in the United Kingdom |
Third-level domain (subdomain)
If so desired, another domain level can be subordinated to the domain name. This type of domain, known as a third-level domain or subdomain, comes before the second-level domain. With it, the aim is to structure the content of the website or the online store in a meaningful way. Thus, while the domain name remains unchanged, thanks to subdomains it is possible to clearly mark different languages or themes within the same web project.
In the example www.example.org , the well-known www subdomain is used. Especially in the early days of the World Wide Web, it served to indicate to users that they were in front of a web application, for example, a website with information. However, currently it is not necessary to enter this third-level domain to be able to visit a web page. In fact, it is less and less common to find operators that offer their website including the www . Other subdomains that you can find more frequently are the following:
- en.example.org
- es.example.org
- it.example.org
- de.example.org
The examples show a common division into subdomains of the different versions of the example.org page based on language. Thus, the subdomain will be used for pages in English; es for the Spanish version, it is for the Italian website and de for the German one.
Actually, all the domains below the TLD are subdomains of the previous one, although in practice they are not always given that name. That is, the domain name (second-level domain) is the subdomain of the TLD, the third level domain is the subdomain of the second-level domain, and so on. For second-level geo domains (such as .co in example.co.uk ) the domain name ( example ) becomes the third level domain. A subdomain of example in this case would become a fourth-level domain. In principle, the number of domain levels is unlimited, although it is usually limited to three, to make it easier for the web address to be remembered.
How to choose the right domain type?
Being aware of the hierarchical structure of web addresses and knowing the variety of extensions available goes a long way in choosing the perfect domain. Also, it is important not to complicate the web address more than necessary. In short, it must be a domain that serves the web project and that makes it as easy as possible for both users and search engines to find it.
Therefore, we present below the most important tips and tricks that can make you choose the right type of domain and its easiest extension.
Tip 1: Choose for a Relevant Domain Type
Sometimes subdomains are used even though they are not necessary. This can confuse the user, if, for example, the website offers little content or if the subdomain does not have much in common with the rest of the levels of the web address. Therefore, use a third-level domain only if you already have in mind what you are going to use it for. A subdomain can be useful in the following scenarios:
- Differentiate the different language versions
- Separate the usual content from a specific offer, such as a blog, a forum, a service area, etc.
- Identify a specific web service, such as an application or FTP server
- Operate an online store parallel to the website under the same second-level domain
Tip 2: Choose a TLD that suits your project
When choosing the TLD you should not only take into account the budget you have: if the top-level domain does not fit the type of content of the project, both users and search engines will evaluate it negatively. If, for example, you opt for the .shop top-level domain, both visitors and Google will understand that this is an online store. However, if the web project does not feature an online or physical store, the reaction may be negative.
Tip 3: ask for advice
Even if you think you have found the best type of domain and your chosen domain name and extension seem appropriate, you should not rush into registration. Ask your friends and acquaintances what they think of the web address. Consulting third parties can offer you insights into the proposed web address that you lacked. That’s why always try to get a second opinion to make sure your web address is the right one.