What are the top level domains and country codes?
Domain names are like home addresses for the online world - they direct people to websites based on simple words and phrases. Without domain names you wouldn't be able to visit this site, or do anything on the Internet. Domains make it possible to interact online, research information, buy goods and services, and send e-mails. Every web address ends with a 'dot' something (also called a suffix) - .com, .org and so on.
The term 'top level domain' refers to this last part of a web address. Anything that appears before the 'dot' is called a second-level domain. Sub-domains divide the second-level domain into multiple parts, for example - subdomain.seconddomain.com contains a sub-domain.
What are the main top level domains? The following is a list of Internet top level domains:
.com - Most commonly used for commercial purposes, although anyone can register this type of domain.
.net - This top level domain was first used for sites involved in Internet activities, although it's commonly used by businesses when the .com has already been taken. Anyone can register this domain.
.org - A popular choice for non-profit organizations, or any group or association that fits well under this type of domain name.
.biz - Used by various businesses that want a professional-sounding top level domain.
.info - Anyone can register this domain, and it can be used for a wide variety of websites. Sites that offer the public information may benefit from a .info address.
.edu - Reserved for institutions of higher learning (universities) that have been accredited and grant four-year degrees.
.gov - Only government websites can use this domain.
.mil - For U.S. military websites.
This list of Internet top level domains doesn't include every possibility. Different countries also have their own top level domains that you can choose if you prefer. Some examples - .us (the United States), .ca (Canada), .co.uk (United Kingdom), .jp (Japan), and so on. Country codes are selected by the International Standards Organization. People choose a country code for different reasons - for instance, if your business is based in Canada, using .ca as the site's top level domain allows your web address to coincide with the actual geographical location of your company.
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