Domain Extensions

Generic Top Level Domain and sometimes referred to as legacy TLD's  is a domain name that is used by a specific group or organization. 

The letters (suffix) that are right of the dot are usually three letters or longer and represent the category that organizations operate within. 

Examples of these extension are .com, .net, .org and to some extent .info, .biz, .pro and some others.  

New TLD’s tend to be extension that are very specific descriptions of what someone is or does, describes an item or industry or can be a more broad or non-specific extension. 

Such examples would be .lawyer, .law, .car, .fashion, .site, .onl (for online) or .online itself. 

There are a multitude of new TLDs (with the possibility of even more extensions coming out) which gives the prospective user an almost infinite number of choices when selecting a name.  

ccTLDs (country code Top Level Domains) are domain extensions that are reserved for specific countries identified by a country code e.g. .mx (Mexico) or .uk (United Kingdom). 

Some countries put restrictions on their ccTLDs country codes limiting what users can do with the ccTLD or only allowing residents and/or citizens of said country to register domain names using said country code. 

Some governments have opened registrations to whomever wants to use the country code due to low registration numbers from residents within their own country. Examples of countries that allow registration from anyone are .im (Isle of Man) and .to Kingdom of Tonga.  

Generic country code Top Level Domains (gccTLDs) are country code domains that have been regarded as generic by google due to low use of the ccTLDs by inhabitants and/or widespread use of the ccTLDs by non-residents. 

This is beneficial for potential users of gccTLDs because it allows to have a global presence or Geo target a country of their choice. This capability is not available to those who use ccTLDs that are not considered generic, even if it is a ccTLD that allows open registration, i.e. non-residents/citizens to register domain names. 

Some examples of gccTLDs are .co, .io, .ws, .ly, .me, .cc, .tv, .nu and more. By google treating these extension as generics means they can operate just like gTLDs such as .com, .org and .net.   

Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs): These are specialized TLDs that are sponsored and overseen by private organizations or communities, with specific rules or criteria for their use.

• .gov (government): Restricted to U.S. government entities.

• .edu (education): Restricted to accredited post-secondary educational institutions (primarily in the U.S.).

• .mil (military): Restricted to the U.S. military.

• .aero (aeronautics): For the air transport industry.

• .museum (museums): For museums.