The Top-Level Domain (TLD) “.black” is a generic TLD that was delegated to Afilias Limited, a global provider of registry services, on June 27, 2014, according to databases maintained by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – the organization responsible for managing and coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure every internet address is unique.
As outlined by Afilias Ltd, “.black” is a TLD that represents sophistication, power, elegance and, most importantly, simplicity. It conveys a sense of seriousness, authority, and credibility, making it an ideal choice for organizations and individuals that correspond with these attributes. For instance, a business consultancy firm or a luxury brand might choose to use a “.black” domain to help communicate professionalism, integrity, and quality (source: Afilias’ Official Site).
The use of “.black” can be varied and multidimensional. It’s not restricted to certain entities or sectors; rather, it’s open to the general public. This versatility gives room for artists, bloggers, retailers, professionals, and corporations to use “.black” to convey a certain type of image. For instance, photographers, painters, and designers can use it to suggest an aesthetic of sophistication and elegance.
Despite this, the use of “.black” is not very widespread. As of October 2021, statistics from domain name analytics site DomainTools suggest there are around 11,000 registered “.black” domains. This is roughly 0.004% of all registered domains. This may have to do with it being a relatively new TLD when compared to traditional TLDs like “.com”, “.org” or “.net”.
Websites with the “.black” domain are expected to adhere to the same standards as those with other TLDs as per ICANN regulations. This includes abiding by principles of legality, integrity, and respect for others’ rights (source: ICANN).
Obtaining a “.black” domain is simple, it can be bought from popular domain registrars such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or directly through Afilias Ltd. The pricing varies depending on the registrar and optional add-on services, like privacy and hosting.
In conclusion, the “.black” TLD offers an interesting approach to online identity, allowing a certain level of color-related symbolism to be introduced into web addresses, and thereby allowing websites to subtly express or underline certain aspects of their organization, brand, or personal identity.
References:
1. ICANN’s website: https://www.icann.org/
2. Afilias’ website: https://afilias.info/
3. DomainTools: https://www.domaintools.com/
4. GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com/
5. Namecheap: https://www.namecheap.com/
