The top-level domain (TLD) is the highest level of organization within the Internet’s domain name system (DNS). These come right after the dot (.) in a web address. For example, in the address “www.google.com”, the TLD is “.com”.
The major types of TLD include generic top-level domains (gTLDs) such as “.com”, “.net” and “.org”, country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) like “.us” for United States, “.uk” for United Kingdom, “.fr” for France etc., and sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs) which include .aero, .asia, .cat, .coop, .edu, .gov, .int, .jobs, .mil, .mobi, .post, .tel, .travel.
Specifically regarding the TLD “.bing”, as of my latest knowledge and available sources, there is no such recognized top-level domain. The term “bing” is popularly associated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine, which uses the “.com” TLD (www.bing.com).
The management and assignment of TLDs are overseen by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which is a non-profit organization tasked with keeping the internet secure, stable and interoperable. If there were to be a “.bing” TLD, it’s likely it would be because Microsoft requested it and ICANN approved.
ICANN launched the New gTLD Program in 2012, allowing organizations to apply for custom TLDs, including brand names. Microsoft could technically apply for “.bing” under this program, if it saw a strategic value. However, the application and annual costs are high, the process to approval can take years, and the new TLDs haven’t shown much customer recognition or SEO benefits to date.
To check the current list of valid TLDs, you can refer to ICANN’s TLDs list on their website. Alternately, IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) also maintains a Root Zone Database which is a comprehensive database of top-level domain names.
This information was compiled from resources including the ICANN (icann.org) and IANA (iana.org) official websites, as well as comparison with valid and common TLDs listed in reputable websites like Wikipedia.
In conclusion, while the concept of a “.bing” TLD is possible in the era of custom TLDs, as of now there is no such recognized top-level domain in the official DNS under ICANN or IANA. The brand Bing continues to operate under the popular “.com” TLD.
Sources:
https://www.icann.org/
https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_domains
