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Louis Roy

Top-Level Domains (TLD): the Complete List of Types

With over 5.35 billion Internet users worldwide in January 20241, creating a website is now a necessity to optimize your company’s growth.

To succeed, you need to rely heavily on the choice of a good top-level domain (TLD), i.e. the last part of the URL of your web page:

URL parts



Top-level domains define the site’s identity on a global or national level, depending on the country code or their generic nature..

Types of TLD

In this PlanetHoster blog, we offer you a guide with a complete list of the different types of top-level domains you can adapt to your web project:

gTLDs – Generic Top-Level Domains

gTLDs (Generic Top-Level Domains) are not associated with any particular country. They enable you to reach an international audience and optimize your online presence.

What Are the Special Features of Generic Top-Level Domains?

Generic TLDs are the most popular and widely used base domains on the Web. They are universal and suitable for all kinds of needs. Their simplicity makes them ideal for brands looking to expand their business globally, or for personal online projects. Here are some common examples of gTLDs:

  • .com: for commerce;
  • .info: for information sites;
  • .org: for non-profit organizations; and
  • .net: for network or web infrastructure platforms.

Also in this category are the top-level domains .biz (for companies) and .name (for personal names or individual projects).

Why Choose a gTLD For Your Registration?

A gTLD gives you immediate credibility when you:

  • create a new website;
  • promote your products; or
  • launch an e-mail campaign.

With simple registration and options to suit every type of project, these top-level domains are essential for startups seeking visibility. They facilitate their positioning on search engines, including Google. Whether for a showcase site, a blog, a portfolio or an online service, gTLDs represent a solid foundation for your domain names.

A Sponsored Top-Level Domain, or sTLD, meets the needs of an organization or company in a specific sector. Dedicated organizations manage these domains and do not apply to private individuals. Their purpose is to create web spaces adapted to well-defined uses. At the same time, they guarantee a high level of quality and security of information on the Internet.

Sponsored top-level domains can only be registered by entities that meet the criteria defined by their sponsors. Common options include:

  • .gov, which is reserved for government agencies; and
  • .mil, which is used exclusively by the U.S. military.

Other top-level domains enable platforms to stand out in specific sectors, such as:

What Are the Advantages of a Sponsored Top-Level Domain?

Sponsored top-level domains bring a high level of credibility and authority to domain names. They ensure that only legitimate sites in line with the sponsor’s requirements can use them. This is particularly useful for companies or organizations wishing to establish a strong online presence in a given sector.

You can easily unlock a new virtual market from a TLD of this type. It is easily recognizable, making it easy for Internet users to spot your brand. That is why you should opt for a top-level domain that is relevant, concise and precise in relation to your sector.

ccTLDs – Country Code Top-Level Domains

TLDs called ccTLDs (Country Code Top-Level Domain) are associated with a specific country or region. Each of them, such as .fr for France or .ca for Canada, represents the country code and reinforces local identity on the Internet. Used by businesses, government sites or private individuals, these TLDs enable us to target a specific audience on a national or regional level.

A Domain for Every Country

The ccTLD is reserved for nations and is subject to registration rules specific to each region. Some codes, such as .fr (France) or .de (Germany), require domain owners to reside in the country. Others, such as .us (United States), are open to all, provided certain criteria are met.

These TLDs are ideal for local companies wishing to establish their presence on the Web while reinforcing their geographical roots. Top-level domains such as .cn (China) and .ca (Canada) are other common examples in this category.

Why Choose a Geographic Top-Level Domain?

For companies specializing in product sales or online content creators, a ccTLD can offer a strategic advantage since it targets a specific market. By opting for a national domain name, you reinforce your credibility with Internet users who correspond to your target.

This type of TLD guarantees optimum visibility for pages wishing to stand out locally, while benefiting from a strong foothold on the Internet. It is a simple way to optimize your web page’s SEO and rank well on search engines, including Google.

nTLDs – New Top-Level Domains

As the Web has evolved, new top-level domains, known as nTLDs, have appeared. They were born in 2011 from the liberalization of domain names by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).

If you are looking for a popular nTLD, choose from this list:

  • .xyz: ideal for a variety of projects;
  • .online: for establishing an online presence;
  • .space: for projects related to innovation or space; or
  • .fun: for entertainment platforms.

The .io nTLD is popular with start-ups and developers in the technology sector. However, you need to turn to a professional to register this modern top-level domain.

Advantages of an nTLD

New, often creative, top-level domains enable companies and individuals to make their web pages stand out from the crowd. They offer unique marketing flexibility and open the door to original domain names, adapted to specific sectors or themes.

A new domain name meets the modern needs of Web users. It is often accessible to all Internet users, whatever their skill level or location. This is perfect for websites that want to reflect their creativity or activity directly and with great impact.

Local and Cultural Top-Level Domains

Local and cultural top-level domains offer companies, communities and individuals the opportunity to showcase their regional or cultural identity on the Internet.

These specific domains are part of the dynamic of opening the way to regionalism on the web. ICANN is a pioneer in this revolution, which it initiated with the authorization of the .cat TLD in 2006. Dedicated to promoting Catalan, this top-level domain has seen over 50,000 registrations.

What is The Purpose of a Local or Cultural TLD?

The aim of a local TLD is to represent a region, a city or a culture, and to target a specific audience in order to highlight local particularities. Suitable for sites that wish to identify themselves by their geographical roots, TLDs of this type are ideal for strengthening the connection between a brand and its territory. These domains enable companies to communicate their commitment to their community or culture.

For example, .africa targets the African continent, while .quebec addresses the Quebec region. Another example: .paris is ideal for sites linked to the City of Light, while .bzh celebrates Brittany and its unique culture. The Basque Country (.eus), Andalusia (.and), the Valencian Community (.val), La Réunion (.re) and Kabylia (.kab) are also among the web’s first local TLDs.

Why and How to Choose a Local Top-Level Domain?

Local TLDs offer a unique way to stand out on the web. They reinforce a site’s credibility with local audiences and make it easier to identify it regionally. For companies or communities, they represent a strategic advantage in establishing a strong link with their territory.

While checking that a local top-level domain is available, you also need to pay attention to the economic viability of your project so as not to fall into too much communitarianism. So consider all the local factors that influence the dynamics of your website (hosting, referencing, etc.) before taking the plunge.

Restricted Top-Level Domains

Restricted TLDs are specifically created to fit your company’s online presence according to industry sector.

Industry-Specific Top-Level Domains

Specific top-level domains, also known as restricted TLDs, are designed for well-defined industries or professions. They require proof of eligibility for registration. The domain name provider (accredited by ICANN) must verify that the choice actually corresponds to your online activity. Common options are:

  • .tech: for the technology sector;
  • .ai: for companies incorporating the possibilities of AI into their business model;
  • .shop: for online stores;
  • .app: for mobile applications and software platforms;
  • .blog: for online content creators;
  • .health: for healthcare organizations and medical services;
  • .gov: reserved for government agencies; and
  • .edu: for academic institutions.

How to Choose the Right Restricted Top-Level Domain for Your Profession?

Choosing the right top-level domain can boost your website’s visibility and authority on Google. If you are a business looking for a credible domain name, the restricted TLDs are a premium solution. They are also suitable for creating a web page for an individual.

If in doubt, rely on an experienced web developer who can help you select the perfect domain. With careful registration, these top-level domains are the key to establishing a reliable, professional online identity.

Reserved Top-Level Domains

Certain TLDs, reserved for specific uses, are not accessible to the general public. They are controlled by IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), the ICANN department that manages the Domain Name System (DNS) root zone. This control of top-level domain assignments is essential to guarantee the smooth operation of the Web and prevent abuse.

Reserved top-level domains (.local or .test) are not used to create sites that can be accessed online. They are often used in technical environments to test applications or manage internal networks. Examples in this category include:

  • .int, which is dedicated to international organizations;
  • .mil, which is exclusively reserved for U.S. armed forces communication; and
  • .arpa, a technical TLD essential to the Internet infrastructure.

Although little-known, these top-level domains play a strategic role in the Web ecosystem. They are not available for traditional registration, as they meet strict security and specialization criteria. For companies or developers working at the technical level, these top-level domains guarantee reliable management of domain names. Their specific use helps to structure the web, while avoiding confusion or conflicts with publicly accessible TLDs.

Conclusion

As we have seen, top-level domain names play a strategic role in the creation of a digital identity tailored to each project. Whether targeting a local audience, establishing an international presence or reflecting a specific activity, they offer unique possibilities for businesses and individuals. What is more, each type of TLD (generic, geographic, sponsored or restricted) meets specific needs.

Choosing a TLD that matches your objectives is essential for optimizing your site’s SEO and establishing a strong link with your target audience. Note, however, that there are an unlimited number of Top Level Domains in the Web world, since the regulatory authority offers the possibility of customization. To make an efficient choice, you need to consider:

  • your real needs;
  • your objective; and
  • your budget.

Of course, there are free domain names on the digital market, but these options do not always suit all usage needs. To make up your mind, rely on the expertise of a knowledgeable web development professional.

  1. Source: https://fr.statista.com/statistiques/1350675/nombre-utilisateurs-internet-reseaux-sociaux-monde/ ︎. ↩︎
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