The top-level domain (TLD), “.CENTER”, is a generic TLD (gTLD) that is part of the domain name system of the Internet. It is located at the highest level in the domain name hierarchy and comes after the last dot in an Internet address.
The “.CENTER” TLD was initially introduced by Donuts Inc., an American company that operates new gTLDs, in 2013. It started to be available for the public’s registration in February 2014. The objective of launching the “.CENTER” TLD was to provide an Internet space that can be useful to everyone. Organizations, businesses, individuals, educational institutes, or any entity that wants a unique digital space to display content and interact with their audiences can use this TLD in their domain name (ICANN, 2020).
As the name implies, “.CENTER” is mainly used by entities that want to portray themselves as a center for some kind of activity or information, be it physical or intellectual. For example, an online education platform can use this TLD to portray itself as a center for learning. Similarly, a fitness website could use the “.CENTER” TLD in its domain name to position itself as a hub for fitness activities and resources.
Some examples of websites that are using the “.CENTER” TLD include www.genesys.center, which is the website for Genesys, a company providing omnichannel customer experience and contact center solutions; another one is www.lunar.center which offers information about lunar activities and space exploration (Domain Name Stat, 2020).
The “.CENTER” TLD, along with other specialty TLDs, has opened up a new world of possibilities for businesses and organizations to customize their domains to fit their identities, missions, and purposes, without being tied to traditional TLDs like “.com”, “.net”, or “.org”. It is now easier than ever for internet users to find and remember the name of a website, as the TLD can give a more immediate impression of the site’s content or purpose.
When choosing a “.CENTER” domain name, it’s important to keep in mind that it should be easy to pronounce, spell, and remember. Like with all website domains, using keywords related to your industry or niche can also be beneficial for SEO purposes.
For the sources: the historical data and purpose of “.CENTER” TLD was retrieved from ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) website which is the organization responsible for introducing new gTLDs. The examples of websites using the .CENTER extension were found on Domain Name Stat website, which is a reliable source providing the latest domain name stats, data and analytics.
