What’s the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?

When you are choosing a domain name, one of the things you need to consider is what comes after the dot (in geeky terms, the TLD or Top Level Domain).

In the beginning the choices were pretty easy as there were lots less to choose from. You either chose the ending that related to the country you were in (like .ie for Ireland) or you chose a “generic” one that appealed on a worldwide basis.

The most popular “generic” TLDs to choose from were .com .net and .org, these could (and still can) be bought by anyone, anywhere in the world.

• .com was meant to stand for commercial and intended for businesses.
• .net domain names were typically used by network companies (technical organisations).
• .org was traditionally meant for charities and non-profit organisations.

As there were no rules on who could actually buy or not buy these domains, the lines have become really blurred over time. In the US the .net is seen in the same way as a .com (probably because it’s gotten harder to find a really impressive, short .com domain name).

In 2014 the choice of domain endings (TLDs) exploded with the introduction of New gTLDs (new Generic Top Level Domains) and now there are literally hundreds to choose from!

If you are looking for a new website address, start with a search here. We’ll not only show you what suffixes (TLDs) are available, but if what you’ve searched for is already registered our search will also suggest some alternatives to consider.

What are you waiting for!