Types of TLDs: gTLD, ccTLD, and sTLD Explained
4 min read
## Types of TLDs: A Complete Classification
The TLD (Top-Level Domain) — Top-Level Domain — is the last segment of a domain name. But not all TLDs are the same. They are divided into categories based on who manages them, who can use them, and what purpose they were designed to serve.
Understanding the different types of top-level domains helps you make a smarter choice when registering a domain and helps you interpret what a domain extension signals about a website.
## The Main Categories at a Glance
| Category | Full Name | Example | Who Can Register |
|----------|-----------|---------|-----------------|
| gTLD | Generic TLD | `.com`, `.org`, `.net` | Usually anyone |
| New gTLD | New Generic TLD | `.app`, `.shop`, `.photography` | Usually anyone |
| ccTLD | Country Code TLD | `.us`, `.de`, `.jp` | Varies by country |
| sTLD | Sponsored TLD | `.edu`, `.gov`, `.museum` | Restricted groups |
| IDN TLD | Internationalized TLD | `.中国`, `.рф` | Varies |
## 1. Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD)
The original generic TLDs were created in 1985. There were only seven:
**`.com`** — Short for "commercial." Intended for businesses, but quickly became the default for any website. Over 160 million `.com` domains are registered today.
**`.org`** — Short for "organization." Intended for non-profits and community groups. Anyone can register it, but it carries an expectation of mission-driven use.
**`.net`** — Short for "network." Intended for network providers. In practice, it became a fallback when `.com` was taken.
**`.edu`** — Restricted to U.S.-accredited post-secondary institutions, managed by EDUCAUSE.
**`.gov`** — Restricted to U.S. government agencies at all levels. Managed by the U.S. General Services Administration.
**`.mil`** — Exclusively for the U.S. military.
**`.arpa`** — A technical TLD for internet infrastructure. Not available for public registration.
## 2. New Generic Top-Level Domains (New gTLD)
In 2012, ICANN launched the **New gTLD Program**, the largest expansion of the internet's namespace in history. Today there are over 1,200 active generic top-level domains.
New gTLDs by category:
**Industry and professional:** `.photography`, `.restaurant`, `.law`, `.doctor`, `.finance`, `.media`, `.news`, `.blog`
**Technology:** `.app`, `.dev`, `.io`, `.cloud`, `.tech`, `.software`, `.digital`
**Commerce:** `.shop`, `.store`, `.market`, `.deals`, `.luxury`, `.fashion`
**Lifestyle:** `.coffee`, `.beer`, `.wine`, `.pizza`, `.fitness`, `.travel`, `.beach`
**Geographic (not ccTLD):** `.london`, `.nyc`, `.tokyo`, `.berlin`, `.paris`, `.miami`
**Brand TLDs:** Large companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon operate their own TLDs for internal use — not available for public registration.
### Are New gTLDs Right for You?
**Pros:** Better availability; more descriptive; can be shorter.
**Cons:** Less name recognition with general audiences; `.com` still converts better in most markets.
Use TLD Finder to compare options across hundreds of extensions.
## 3. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLD)
Every country and territory has a two-letter ccTLD (Country-Code Top-Level Domain) based on the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard.
### Well-Known ccTLDs
| TLD | Country | TLD | Country |
|-----|---------|-----|---------|
| `.us` | United States | `.jp` | Japan |
| `.uk` | United Kingdom | `.cn` | China |
| `.de` | Germany | `.br` | Brazil |
| `.fr` | France | `.au` | Australia |
| `.ca` | Canada | `.in` | India |
### Creative Use of ccTLDs
Many ccTLDs have become globally popular for their letter combinations:
| TLD | Country | Popular Use |
|-----|---------|------------|
| `.io` | British Indian Ocean Territory | Tech and startups |
| `.ai` | Anguilla | Artificial intelligence |
| `.tv` | Tuvalu | Video streaming |
| `.co` | Colombia | Startup alternative to `.com` |
| `.me` | Montenegro | Personal sites |
| `.fm` | Micronesia | Radio and podcasting |
| `.gg` | Guernsey | Gaming communities |
### ccTLDs and SEO
Search engines treat ccTLDs as strong geotargeting signals. A `.de` site is strongly associated with Germany in search results — a benefit for local targeting, a limitation for global reach.
## 4. Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLD)
A sTLD (Sponsored Top-Level Domain) is operated by a specific community with strict eligibility rules:
| TLD | Who Qualifies |
|-----|--------------|
| `.edu` | U.S. accredited post-secondary institutions |
| `.gov` | U.S. government agencies |
| `.mil` | U.S. military |
| `.aero` | Air transport industry members |
| `.coop` | Cooperative enterprises |
| `.museum` | Accredited museums |
The restricted nature of sTLDs creates a trust premium — seeing `.gov` immediately confirms a genuine U.S. government resource.
## 5. Internationalized Domain Name TLDs (IDN TLDs)
IDN TLDs support non-Latin scripts using Punycode encoding, making the internet accessible to users who do not use the Latin alphabet.
| Script | TLD | Country |
|--------|-----|---------|
| Chinese | `.中国` | China |
| Arabic | `.مصر` | Egypt |
| Cyrillic | `.рф` | Russia |
| Korean | `.한국` | South Korea |
| Japanese | `.日本` | Japan |
## Choosing the Right TLD Type
**Global commercial site:** Start with `.com`. If unavailable, try `.co` or a relevant new gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain).
**Non-profit or community:** `.org` is the recognized standard.
**Local or country-specific audience:** Use the appropriate ccTLD (Country-Code Top-Level Domain).
**Technology product or startup:** `.io`, `.dev`, `.app`, or `.tech` work well.
**Government entity:** Apply for the appropriate sTLD (Sponsored Top-Level Domain).
For hands-on exploration, try TLD Finder to search availability and compare extensions.
## Key Takeaways
- Generic TLDs include the original seven plus 1,200+ new gTLDs from the 2012 expansion.
- Country code TLDs are two-letter extensions tied to countries, with varying restrictions.
- Sponsored TLDs like `.edu` and `.gov` are restricted to qualified entities.
- IDN TLDs support non-Latin scripts for global accessibility.
- The right TLD (Top-Level Domain) depends on your audience, purpose, and brand strategy.
Read How to Choose Your First Domain Name for practical guidance, or What Is a TLD? Understanding Top-Level Domains for a foundational overview.