Open TLD

An open [[tld|TLD]] is one with unrestricted registration policies, meaning any person or entity worldwide can register a domain name under it without needing to prove eligibility, nationality, or organizational affiliation. .com is the quintessential open TLD. Open TLDs contrast with [[restricted-tld|restricted TLDs]] (like .edu or .gov) and [[stld|sponsored TLDs]] that enforce eligibility rules. Many [[new-gtld|new gTLDs]] launched as open TLDs to maximize registration volume, though some open TLDs later introduced additional verification requirements to combat abuse.