The top-level domain (TLD) in reference, .ADS, does not currently exist as an officially recognized TLD in the Domain Name System (DNS) of the internet. As of my research conducted on the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) databases, which oversee all global top-level domains, there wasn’t a TLD registered as .ADS.
Broadly speaking, TLDs are the last part of a domain name. They follow the final dot in an internet address. For instance, in the domain name www.example.com, the TLD is .com.
In 1984, the first six TLDs were implemented (.com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .org, .net) and, in the mid-2000s, ICANN began a process to expand the list of TLDs (ICANN, 2012). This resulted in many new TLDs entering the domain sector, largely divided into two categories: generic TLDs (gTLDs) and country code TLDs (ccTLDs).
The gTLDs, like .com, .net, or .org, usually describe the function of the organization or entity that uses it. For instance, .edu is used mostly by American universities, and .gov is used by the United States Government. Conversely, ccTLDs represent specific geographic locations. For example, .au represents Australia and .jp represents Japan.
Some companies and brands also have their TLDs, referred to as branded TLDs. Examples include .google, .apple, and .amazon. This helps brands enrich their online presence and protect their brand.
Today, there are over 1500 TLDs, although many are restricted and cannot be freely registered. Among those acceptable for general registration, some, such as .site, .online, .store, etc., are intended for specific uses, although those restrictions are not always enforced.
.ADS may seem like a potential TLD given that it could represent the Advertising industry, but as of now, it does not exist. Adding new TLDs is a costly and complicated process, including costly application fees, meeting certain technical and operational criteria, and passing through a series of evaluations.
But it’s worth highlighting that the future of internet domain names is highly unpredictable. Even though .ADS does not exist presently, it could be a TLD in the future depending upon the demand and adjustments in the policies and procedures by ICANN.
Regarding examples, because .ADS doesn’t exist currently, we can’t provide examples. For the sources; information about TLDs, ICANN history, and domain name expansion comes from the official ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) website, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority).
In conclusion, while .ADS could be a potentially interesting TLD, it is not currently recognized and hence not available for use. If in the future it does become available, it could potentially offer a new avenue for advertising firms to make a unique internet presence.
