Generic Top-Level Domains, or gTLDs, are among the most common domain extensions you’ll encounter on the internet – think .com, .org, and .net. If you're selecting a domain name for your website, it's important to understand the role gTLDs play and how they can impact your online presence.

In this article, we’ll explore what gTLDs are, why they exist, and how to choose the most suitable one for your project. 

Components of a domain name

A domain name typically includes two main parts – the Top-Level Domain (TLD) and the Second-Level Domain (SLD). Additional parts, like subdomains, may also be used.

Example: www.exampleaddress.com

Top-level domain (TLD)

The TLD is the last part of a domain, such as .com or country-specific codes like .co.uk. It appears after the final dot in a URL and is part of the DNS hierarchy, helping route web traffic by identifying the domain’s server.

Second-level domain (SLD)

The SLD is the part directly before the TLD (e.g., exampleaddress). It’s often the brand or name of the website, making it the most identifiable part of the domain.

Subdomain

A subdomain appears before the SLD, separated by a dot (e.g., help.exampleaddress.com). It’s used to create separate sections of a website, like a help centre or blog, and can rank independently in search engines.

Learn more: A guide to subdomains

What is a generic TLD?

Generic TLDs are the most common category of TLD in use today, managed and maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. These include titans such as .com, .org, .net, .co, and more. 

They’re called generic because they don’t give much information away about the website they’re attached to. Although they’re called generic, don’t mistake that to mean boring – gTLDs such as .com remain some of the most respected and sought after TLDs to this day.

The original six gTLDs

The first set of gTLDs was defined by RFC 920 and released in October 1984 to serve as “general purpose domains”. Despite their age, the original six gTLDs remain some of the most popular for new domains released today.

  • .com: Derived from the word commercial, originally intended for commercial organisations but now open to all.
  • .edu: Derived from the word education, intended for institutions such as universities.
  • .gov: Derived from the word government, intended for use by U.S. government offices and agencies.
  • .mil: Derived from the word military, intended for use by the U.S. Department of Defense and any affiliated organisations.
  • .net: Derived from the word network, intended for use by organisations such as internet service providers, but now open to all.
  • .org: Derived from the word organisation, intended as a catch-all for websites that didn’t fit into the other categories. Now open to all, but commonly used by non-profit organisations.

Domain names ending with gTLDs are often chosen by businesses due to their history and prestige. Although many of these gTLDs are now open to all, including .org, .com and .net domains, they’re still commonly used according to their original purpose. 

This is because users expect .com domains to relate to business and ecommerce websites and .org domains to relate to non-profit organisations, and it’s always a good idea to ensure that your domain name accurately reflects the aim of your site. This will help the right audiences find you.

New TLDs

Although these original gTLDs (and especially .com) are still the most popular TLDs by far, a key issue with them is that they lack availability. Many premium .com domains have already been registered, and you may find that your ideal domain has already been registered with a .com TLD.

To remedy this problem, ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which is the non-profit organisation that coordinates the maintenance of the domain name system, periodically releases new TLDs that people can register. 

These new TLDs, such as .tech and .art, tend to be much more specific than gTLDs, which gives you the opportunity to really show people what your website is about.

There are two main categories of gTLDs: sponsored and non-sponsored. To register a sponsored gTLD like .gov, you need to fulfil certain criteria set by the sponsors, who can be companies or organisations representing the community related to that TLD. 

Non-sponsored gTLDs are managed centrally by ICANN. Some of these gTLDs were originally intended for use under certain conditions (e.g., .com was meant for commercial businesses and .org was meant for non-profit organisations), but since these restrictions were dropped, almost every non-sponsored gTLD is available for anyone to use.

What is the difference between a generic TLD and a country-code TLD?

As you might be able to guess, country-code top-level domains (or ccTLDs) throw some geography into the mix. 

This category of top-level domain can refer to a country, an autonomous territory, or a sovereign state. A gTLD on the other hand is not geographically specific, but they do include some of the most popular domain extensions to date – such as .com.

ccTLD or gTLD? Which is best for me?

When choosing a top-level domain, it's worth considering both ccTLDs (country-code TLDs) and gTLDs (generic TLDs).

ccTLDs

Best for targeting users in a specific country (e.g., .co.uk, .de). They can improve your search rankings in that region but may have registration restrictions based on location.

gTLDs

Widely recognised and trusted (e.g., .com, .org). They add credibility and are often expected by users, making them a safe and reliable choice for any site.

Our Recommendation:

Use a gTLD as your primary domain and consider adding a ccTLD if you want to target a specific country.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide: A Guide to Country-Code Top-Level Domains.

Why should you register multiple domains?

Registering multiple domains is a smart way to protect your brand and capture more traffic.

1. Catch type-in traffic

Many users type URLs directly into the address bar, often defaulting to .com. If your main domain uses a different TLD, owning the .com version helps redirect those visitors to your site.

2. Avoid lost traffic from typos

People often misspell domain names. Registering common typo versions ensures those users still reach your site instead of landing on an error page.

3. Protect against typosquatting

Cybercriminals may register misspelled versions of your domain to impersonate your site or resell the domain at a high price – this is also known as typosquatting. Owning these variants helps prevent scams and protects your brand’s reputation.

How to register a domain with a gTLD

The best way to buy a new domain name with a gTLD is to go through an accredited registrar like us. 

We offer all of the main generic TLDs as well as plenty of exciting new options like .xyz and .online. All you need to do is search for your domain name and our handy tool will tell you what’s available.

But no matter what type of domain you need, we’re here to help. If you’ve still got any questions, get in touch with our sales team, and they’ll help get your project online in no time.