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We’ve previously written several articles on what makes a really good domain name, how to choose one and what extensions they should have, but we haven’t yet discussed the different types of domains.
This is because there are several different types of domains, each with different extensions; whilst knowledge of these isn’t always essential when launching a simple website or choosing a general domain name, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of them.
We have therefore compiled everything you need to know about the different types of domains and domain names below.
TLD (top-level domain)
We must certainly mention TLDs first amongst the different types of domain, as this is where we can classify top-level domains. What does this mean?
It is important to know that every website’s URL consists of several parts. Let’s take an example: mintaoldal.com. In this case, the top-level domain is .com, but of course other extensions can also be included here.
With the rapid growth in the number of websites, the range of options available for TLDs is naturally becoming increasingly limited; as a result, there is currently a particularly high demand for unique domains and extensions.
A TLD can be regarded as a kind of umbrella category, which is further subdivided into different types.
ccTLD (top-level domain, country code domain)
Country code domains, also known as ccTLDs, are also classified as top-level domains; however, they can only be registered in certain countries and subject to clearly defined conditions.
Every country has an official country code top-level extension; in the case of Hungary, these are domains ending in .hu, but other examples include .at for Austria, .de for Germany and .fr for France, amongst others.
These domains are typically only accessible to residents of a specific country, but there may, of course, be exceptions; for example, it is common for corporate clients to operate in different markets using different ccTLDs in each country.
It is important to note that there are ccTLDs which can be used as gTLDs, as will be explained shortly. One example is the .io extension, which the British use for territories associated with the Indian Ocean, but which anyone can use; indeed, it is particularly common amongst technology companies.
gTLD (generic top-level domain)
Although this term is not very common, everyone is bound to have heard of generic top-level domains. Examples of gTLDs include .com, .net and .org, but as things stand, there are currently hundreds of unique extensions available to users at this level.
Of these, the aforementioned trio are obviously among the most popular, but as they have been in use on the market for years, the best domain names have been snapped up by an increasing number of websites, making it very difficult to come up with a unique solution.
As a result, the list is constantly being expanded, so that today the range of generic top-level domains is bolstered by .blog and .online, amongst others, meaning that registrants can choose from an ever-increasing number of options, many of which are topic-specific.
It is interesting to note that geoTLDs, which are linked to more precise localisation, are also classified as gTLDs. An example of this is when the names of major cities are used as extensions; thus, .london and .budapest can also be classified in this category.
sTLD (sponsored top-level domain)
Sponsored top-level domains include domain extensions that are supported or funded by a business, a government body or even a private individual.
This category includes domain extensions such as .edu or .gov in Hungary, which are primarily intended for educational institutions and official bodies, whilst in the United States, .mil falls into this category, as it is mainly used for websites with a military purpose.
If anyone wishes to register an sTLD, they must comply with a great many rules; this is how the authorities attempt to restrict the operation of this type of domain so that not just anyone can run one.
SLD (second-level domain)
Second-level domains are typically the domain names themselves, which always precede the TLD in a website’s URL. To stick with the example, in the case of mintaoldal.com, whilst .com is the TLD, ‘mintaoldal’ is the SLD.
This is the aspect that requires the most attention when purchasing a domain name, as it is important for search engines, but it is also essential for helping people to remember your business and your website address more easily.
It is worth considering carefully which SLD and TLD to combine, as these can fundamentally shape your long-term strategy.
Premium domain name
A domain name is considered ‘premium’ if a term is very common or very specific, or perhaps linked to a particular brand, and as a result, it is either unavailable for purchase or costs significantly more than an average domain name.
In our experience, a very significant proportion of premium domain names have already been snapped up; a great many people have invested in them for commercial purposes so that they can sell them at even higher prices than usual to those wishing to build websites on them.
Second-level public domain
The emergence of public second-level domains was driven by the fact that a great many basic domain names were already taken; in such cases, these names can be provided with an additional extension, meaning that, with a small addition, they can be used by anyone.
For example, if there is a domain name called mintaoldal.hu that we really need, but it is currently being used by an online shop, we can opt for the domain mintaoldal.bolt.hu instead, which could be a good compromise for everyone.
In this formula, the public second-level domain will be .bolt, but there are plenty of other alternatives to choose from, which offer a wide range of options, particularly for popular domains.