Second-Level Domain
Second-Level Domain
A Second-Level Domain (SLD) is the part of a domain name that follows the “www.” part and precedes the top-level domain (TLD), such as “.com” or “.org”. For example, in the domain name “www.example.com”, “example” is the SLD.
What does Second-Level Domain mean?
In the hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS), a second-level domain (SLD) is the second level of a Fully qualified domain name beneath the top-level domain (TLD). For instance, in the Website address www.example.com, “example” is the second-level domain.
SLDs are typically chosen to represent the name of a particular organization, project, or individual. They can also be used to categorize websites by topic or purpose. For example, “.edu” SLDs are used for educational institutions, and “.gov” SLDs are used for government agencies.
SLDs are managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN maintains a registry of all approved SLDs and assigns them to organizations that meet specific criteria.
Applications
SLDs play a vital role in the functioning of the Internet. They provide a way for users to identify and access websites easily and help to organize the vast Number of websites that exist. SLDs are also used in email addresses, web hosting, and other online services.
In addition to their practical applications, SLDs can also have symbolic value. For example, a company might choose a SLD that reflects its brand identity or values. A nonprofit organization might choose a SLD that highlights its mission or cause.
History
The concept of SLDs was introduced in the early days of the Internet when the DNS was first being developed. The original SLDs were assigned to a small number of organizations, including universities, government agencies, and research institutions.
Over time, the number of SLDs increased as the Internet grew and more organizations and individuals began using the web. In 1998, ICANN was founded to take over management of the DNS and oversee the allocation of SLDs.
Today, there are hundreds of different SLDs available, and new SLDs are constantly being added. The growth of SLDs has helped to keep the Internet organized and accessible, and it has also allowed for the creation of new and innovative online services.