What is a TLD? gTLD vs ccTLD
A TLD (top-level domain) is the last label of a domain name, such as .com in example.com or .in in webji.in. IANA's root zone lists 1,436 TLDs on 14 November 2026: 1,126 generic and 309 country-code. The type decides who sets the rules, how renewals are priced and whether search engines read a country.
For anyone choosing a domain extension in India who wants to know what the letters after the dot control and what they do not.
knowledge
- Read time
- 3 min
- Sections
- 5
- Updated
- 14 Nov 2026
- Written by
- WebJi® team
Last editorial update: 14 November 2026.
What is a TLD in a domain name?
A TLD, or top-level domain, is the label after the last dot in a domain name: .com in example.com, .in in webji.in. DNS reads a name from right to left, so the TLD is the first step a resolver takes after the root, before it reaches the second-level label you actually register.
| Label | Level | Who controls it |
|---|---|---|
| .in | Top-level domain (ccTLD) | The registry, NIXI, delegated in the IANA root zone |
| .co | Second level, a public category under .in | NIXI, which opens it to registrations |
| webji | The registrable name | The registrant, through a registrar |
| shop | Subdomain | The owner, in their own DNS zone, at no extra cost |
That split is why you pay a registrar for webji.co.in but create shop.webji.co.in yourself. The difference between a domain and a full web address is covered in URL vs domain.
How many TLDs exist, and what types are there?
IANA's root zone list (version 2026111400, updated 14 November 2026) contains 1,436 TLDs: 1,126 generic, 309 country-code and one infrastructure domain, .arpa. The country-code figure includes 248 two-letter ASCII codes and 61 internationalised ccTLDs written in local scripts.
| Type (IANA label) | Active | Examples | Typical rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic | 1,126 | .com, .org, .net, .shop, .tech | Mostly open to anyone; a few restricted |
| Country Code | 309 | .in, .uk, .de, .ai, .io, .भारत | Set by each country's registry |
| Special Use | 1 | .arpa | Internet infrastructure only, not for sale |
Older guides also list a "sponsored" class for names like .edu and .museum. IANA's current database files those under Generic; the eligibility rules still apply, so .edu remains limited to accredited US institutions through EDUCAUSE, and .gov to US government bodies.
gTLD vs ccTLD: what is the real difference?
A gTLD is a generic extension governed by ICANN contracts; a ccTLD is a two-letter country code whose registry sets its own policy. That one difference explains most of what a buyer notices: rules, renewal prices and how search engines treat the name.
| Attribute | gTLD (.com, .shop) | ccTLD (.in, .uk) |
|---|---|---|
| Policy set by | ICANN registry agreements | The national registry (NIXI for .in) |
| Geographic signal | None; Google treats it as global | Targets the country, except ccTLDs Google treats as generic |
| Eligibility | Usually open | Varies: some open, some need local presence |
| Disputes | UDRP | National policy, such as INDRP for .in |
Some ccTLDs behave like generics. Google's Search Central documentation lists 20 it treats as gTLDs, including .ai, .io, .co, .me and .tv, so a .ai site is not tied to Anguilla in search. IANA still classes them as Country Code, so their registries, not ICANN, set the rules.
Where new gTLDs like .shop and .tech came from
Most of today's 1,126 generic TLDs came from ICANN's 2012 application round, which turned the original handful of generics into more than a thousand. They fall into recognisable groups:
- Category words: .shop (GMO Registry), .tech (Radix), .app, .site.
- Brand TLDs: companies running their own extension, such as .bharti, registered to Bharti Enterprises.
- City and region TLDs: .abudhabi, .berlin, .london. No Indian city has its own TLD in the root zone today.
- Niche interests: .yoga, .photography, .football.
ICANN ran a second round in 2026, with applications accepted from 30 April to 12 August 2026. Strings applied for in that round are still in evaluation and cannot be registered until they are contracted and delegated.
India's TLDs: .in, .भारत and the second-level names
India has two country-code TLDs, .in and the Devanagari .भारत, both run by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). Under .in, NIXI also opens second-level categories, so co.in, firm.in or org.in each act as a separate namespace for the same brand.
- Long-standing categories: .co.in, .net.in, .org.in, .firm.in, .gen.in and .ind.in. See .in domain registration for current prices.
- Newer categories: WebJi® also lists names such as .ai.in and .business.in, which suit brands whose plain .in is taken.
- Script: .भारत accepts Devanagari names; how those convert to xn-- punycode is covered under IDN domains.
Does the TLD affect SEO?
No extension ranks higher because of its letters; what a TLD changes is geotargeting, trust and click-through. Google calls a ccTLD a strong signal that a site targets that country, and treats every other TLD in the root zone as generic.
So .in helps a business that sells inside India and limits one that sells abroad. A new gTLD is fine for rankings but can cost type-in traffic if customers assume ".com" by habit. Pick the name customers will remember, then handle international targeting with hreflang and content.
How to choose a TLD for an Indian business
Start with .com if the name is free, add .in for an Indian audience, and use a category gTLD or a second-level .in name only when it reads better than the alternatives. Then check the renewal price, not just the first year.
- Search the exact name on .com and .in together; register both if the brand is serious.
- If both are taken, try .co.in or a category word that describes the business, such as .shop for a store.
- Compare the renewal price, because many new gTLDs renew higher than their first-year offer. Domain name cost in India sets out typical ranges.
- Check whether the registry restricts who can register; the domain extensions guide walks through those cases.
Registration itself takes a few minutes on WebJi® domain registration, with GST invoices in INR. Checkout shows the current price for the exact name.
Frequently asked questions
Who controls TLDs?
ICANN coordinates the system and IANA maintains the root zone where every TLD is delegated. Each TLD is run by a registry, such as VeriSign for .com and .net or NIXI for .in, and sold through accredited registrars. The ICANN guide explains the policy layer.
Is .co.in a TLD?
No. The TLD is .in; .co is a second-level category that NIXI opens under it. People often call .co.in an extension because you register names directly beneath it, but in DNS terms it sits one level below the top.
Is .ai a generic TLD?
Not officially. IANA lists .ai as the country-code TLD of Anguilla, managed for its government. Google, however, treats .ai as a generic TLD for geotargeting, so it does not signal Anguilla in search. Its registration rules still come from that registry, not from an ICANN contract.
Can I create my own TLD?
Only by applying to ICANN in an open application round and running a registry, which suits large organisations rather than small businesses. The latest round accepted applications from 30 April to 12 August 2026. A subdomain or a second-level name is the practical alternative.
Last editorial update: 14 November 2026.
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