The top-level domain (TLD) “.cl” is the Internet country code top-level domain for Chile. Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are defined two-letter domains established by ISO 3166-1 standard to signify defined territories or countries.
The University of Chile’s Department of Computing Sciences manages the “.cl” ccTLD with their organization called NIC Chile (Network Information Centre Chile). They are responsible for managing, maintaining, and developing the domain operations in favor of the Chilean community over the internet.
The “.cl” TLD was established on 26th April 1987 with introductions like “.com.cl” for commercial entities, “.edu.cl” for educational institutions, “.gov.cl” for governmental bodies and “.mil.cl” for military institutions. According to data from NIC Chile’s statistics as of August 16, 2021, there are more than 650,000 active “.cl” domain name registrations.
Some examples of websites that use the “.cl” TLD are:
1. www.google.cl – The Chilean version of the global search engine, Google.
2. www.santotomas.cl – A website for the Universidad Santo Tomas, a private university in Chile.
3. www.latercera.cl – The online version of La Tercera, a daily newspaper in Chile.
4. www.gob.cl – The official website of the Chilean Government.
The usage of a ccTLD like “.cl” gives a website a local identity, which can be particularly effective for businesses that are targeting a specific country. ccTLDs like “.cl” also increase search engine visibility for users searching from that particular country.
Registering a “.cl” domain is a straightforward process through NIC Chile. You can apply online, follow the specific regulations, and select the appropriate categorization for your website.
Please note: not all TLDs are available to the general public: some require documentation proving that the registrant has a presence in the country related to the TLD.
Sources:
1. NIC Chile, “.CL Domain Names.” https://www.nic.cl/
2. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), “Root Zone Database.” https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db
3. ISO 3166-1, “Country Codes.” https://www.iso.org/iso-3166-country-codes.html
4. Startup Chile, “How to register a .cl domain.” https://www.startupchile.org/blog/how-to-register-a-cl-domain-in-chile-the-official-process/
