The top-level domain (TLD) ‘.care’ is an Internet extension or suffix that is used at the end of web addresses. It is a part of an Internet address that follows the final dot of the URL. In the case of ‘.care’, it’s a generic top-level domain (gTLD), which means it’s open for registration by any individual or organisation and is not restricted geographically or by industry. The ‘.care’ TLD was introduced during the Internet’s largest expansion of top-level domain offerings, launched by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in 2014 (According to The Register, a leading global online tech publication).
The ‘.care’ domain is managed by Donuts Inc., a domain name registrar that holds a vast portfolio of gTLDs. According to Donuts Inc., the ‘.care’ extension can be utilized by healthcare industries, elder and child care professionals, software and IT companies (for customer care), non-profit organizations and more. It could be used to denote services, products, or information related to care as is suggested by the term itself (‘care’).
Domain names under ‘.care’ allow businesses and individuals to create a digital brand image that specifically highlights the care aspect of their services. For example, a healthcare provider could use a ‘.care’ domain to enhance their digital presence and effectively reach out to their target audience, such as www.healthservice.care or www.homesupport.care.
When it comes to technical details, it should be noted that TLDs serve as an easy way for websites to be located on the Internet. The Domain Name System (DNS), which is a hierarchical and decentralized system that converts human-friendly website names into numeric IP addresses, uses these TLDs to accurately route Internet traffic.
ICANN, as mentioned, is the authority responsible for coordinating and managing these TLDs, ensuring that all registered TLDs are unique and that internet navigation remains smooth and reliable. As for the .care domain, like any other TLDs, websites can choose to have a .care TLD for their domain name, provided it is available and not already registered by another website, you could use domain name registrar services like GoDaddy, NameCheap, Hover or others for this process.
To summarize, the ‘.care’ TLD is a generic top-level domain managed by Donuts Inc. It’s open for registration by any person or organization and can be effectively used to reflect a brand or service’s dedication towards care, whether it be in the healthcare sector, customer service, or a non-profit scenario.
Sources:
The Register
Donuts Inc.
ICANN
Internet Society (ISOC)
Network Solutions