Top Level Domains - TLDs
A Top Level Domain (TLD) is the uppermost in the hierarchy of Domain Names. For example in ausregistry.com the "com" is considered the TLD and the "AusRegistry" is considered the second level Domain. Together they form a Domain Name which is unique.
There are two types of TLDs. The most common type is the 'generic' or 'global' TLDs (gTLDs) which include .com, .net, .org, .mobi, .travel and .asia. Applications for new gTLDs will be available soon (see information below).
National or country code ccTLDs are two letter Domain Names that are managed by a Registry designated and controlled by each specific country. AusRegistry is the Registry Operator for Australia's country code, .au. Each Registry has differing price structures, policy requirements and industry models.
Information regarding new gTLDs and ICANN's upcoming Application Process
- New gTLD Program Page on ICANN's website
- New gTLD Program - Evaluation Process (Draft):
- GNSO Final Report on the Introduction of New Top Level Domains
- New gTLD Policy
- New gTLD Implementation Model_Paris-23June
TLD Related Organisations and Information
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers - ICANN
The non-profit organization that officially coordinates the technical management of the Internet's Domain Name system. It was founded to assume responsibility for items such as IP address space assignment, protocol parameter assignment, Domain Name system management, and root server system management.
Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association - APTLD
APTLD (Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association) is an organisation for ccTLD (country-code Top Level Domain) registries in Asia Pacific region. APTLD was originally established in 1998, and in 2003 legally established in Malaysia.
APTLD works as the forum of information exchange regarding technological and operational issues of Domain Name registries in Asia Pacific region. Also, as an interface to other international Internet coordinating bodies, APTLD fosters and elevates participation of AP ccTLDs in these global fora, as well as acting in the best interest of APTLD members in global Internet policy making process.
Country Code Names Supporting Organization - CCNSO
The Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the policy-development body for a narrow range of global issues regarding country code top-level domains (ccTLD) within the ICANN structure.
Established under the bylaws of ICANN, it is responsible for developing and recommending global policies relating to ccTLD to the ICANN Board of Trustees, including the name-related activities of ccTLDs and coordinating with other ICANN Supporting Organizations, committees, and constituencies under ICANN.
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority - IANA
IANA is an organisation that manages global IP address allocation and DNS root zone management.
Internet Architecture Board - IAB
The IAB is chartered both as a committee of the IETF and as an advisory body of the Internet Society (ISOC). Its responsibilities include architectural oversight of IETF activities, Internet standards process oversight and appeal, and the appointment of the RFC editor. The IAB is also responsible for the management of the IETF protocol parameter registries.
Internet Engineering Task Force - IETF
Internet Society - ISOC
The Internet Society is an independent international nonprofit organisation founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy around the world.
Réseaux IP Européens - RIPE
The RIPE is one of five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) providing Internet resource allocations, registration services and co-ordination activities that support the operation of the Internet globally. RIPE services Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia regions.
Requests for Comments - RFC
- New standards are proposed and published on the Internet as an RFC. The proposal is reviewed by the IETF and eventually a new standard is established if accepted.
- The reference number/name for the standard retains the acronym RFC, e.g. the official standard for e-mail message formats is RFC 822.
- The Registry system is implemented using the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) and its associated object bindings as developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). EPP is a proposed standard and defined in the following RFCs:
- RFC4930 - Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)
- RFC4931 - Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Domain Name Mapping
- RFC4932 - Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Host Mapping
- RFC4933 - Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Contact Mapping
- RFC4934 - Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Transport Over TCP
- RFC4935 - Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Guidelines for Extending the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)
