A Top-Level Domain (TLD), as per the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), is the last segment of the domain name. It is the part that follows immediately after the “dot” symbol. Examples of TLDs include `.com`, `.org`, `.net`, and `.gov`.
Your question is about the TLD `.barclaycard`. However, as of now, `.barclaycard` is not acknowledged as a conventional TLD. According to the official list of TLDs managed and updated periodically by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), an organization operating under ICANN, there is no active TLD called `.barclaycard` (IANA, 2021).
Furthermore, it’s important to note that while we usually encounter TLDs like `.com` or `.org`, there are indeed certain brands, organizations or cities which have their specific TLDs. These are known as gTLDs (Generic top-level domains), and they can be categorized as Brand TLDs. Examples of brand TLDs can include domains like `.google` or `.amazon`.
As part of ICANN’s new gTLD program in 2012, there were provisions for entities to apply for custom TLDs – ones that may represent certain brands or geographies. This move was intended to enhance competition, innovation, and choice in the Domain Name space. ICANN’s New gTLD program received nearly 2000 applications for these new domains by the May 2012 deadline (ICANN, 2012). Despite such a case, `.barclaycard` was not part of the list of newly introduced TLDs.
So while a `.barclaycard` TLD is theoretically possible, it doesn’t exist in practice, at least as of the moment.
In any instance, before any domain ending in `.barclaycard` could be used, Barclays Bank would need to apply to ICANN to have `.barclaycard` registered as a TLD, the bank must also demonstrate a legitimate claim to this TLD and once that is achieved, the domain could be actively administrated by them.
Sources:
1. ICANN: “New gTLD Program”, 2012, https://archive.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/program-en.htm
2. IANA: “Delegated Strings”, 2021, https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt
3. ICANN: “Generic top-level domains (gTLDs)”, https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/gtlds-2012-02-25-en
4. ICANN: “New Generic Top-Level Domains”, https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings+
