What is a domain?

TLD, gTLD and ccTLD briefly explained

What is a domain or top-level domain, a gTLD or ccTLD, we will explain in this article. One of the most important aspects of creating a website or an online presence in general is choosing a domain name. For more information, read our guide: Choosing the right domain name

A domain name is a unique address for a website. It usually consists of a website name and a domain name extension. A memorable domain strengthens your brand image and makes it easier for your visitors to find your website.

A domain is a name on the Internet such as. orcwebhosting.com and can be used for a homepage address like www.orcwebhosting.com and for e-mail addresses like post@orcwebhosting.ch.

Technically, a domain name is the translation of an IP address e.g. 12.234.567.89. This is a numerical code that computers need to communicate on the Internet. Like the IP address, each domain name is unique worldwide, otherwise no content could be found unambiguously.

The difference between domain names and URLs

Although a domain name and a Universal Resource Locator (URL) have some similarities, they are different. It is a complete web address for redirecting visitors to a specific page of a website. The domain name is only one component.

It consists of a protocol, a domain, and a path. The protocol indicates whether a website has an SSL certificate. Note that URLs have a path only if they direct visitors to a specific page on a website.

There is also the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). This is the full version of a domain name that also includes the host name.

Top-Level Domain (TLD)

A Top Level Domain is the segment of a domain that immediately follows the last dot symbol in a domain name. It is the highest level in the Internet's hierarchical domain name system.

Each Top Level Domain is managed by an independent organization under the direction of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) managed.

Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD)

Generic top-level domains (gTLD) are the most popular type of domain extension. They contain three or more characters and can be registered by anyone. The three most common generic top level domains are .com, .org and .net.

Country code top-level domains (ccTLD)

Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are reserved for specific countries or regions and usually identify the official Internet address of the country or region. For example, .ch is the ccTLD for Switzerland.

Are top-level domains important for search engine optimization (SEO)?

Yes, top-level domains are important for search engine optimization (SEO), but keywords in your top-level domain do not improve your ranking. In general, country-specific or regional top level domains (ccTLDs) rank better in local search results than generic top level domains (gTLDs).

Moreover, there are some top-level domains (e.g. .xyz, .cn or .biz) that are associated with spam and malicious SEO tactics. This can have a negative impact on the trust and reliability of your website visitors.

Now that you've had a little insight into the world of top-level domains, you probably can't wait to register your own domain. Why not take a look right now and see if your Dream domain still free is.