The top-level domain (TLD) for Cyprus is “.cy”. A top-level domain is the highest level of domain names in the root zone of the Domain Name System (DNS) of the internet. It is installed in the Root Zone Database, which is essentially the ‘address book’ of the internet, allowing users to visit websites and send emails.
The .cy TLD is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Republic of Cyprus, an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean. Country Code Top-Level Domains are used by countries based on their respective ISO-3166 Country Codes. The maintenance and operational functions of TLDs are coordinated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
According to the University of Cyprus’ domain hosting services, the .cy domains are managed by the University of Cyprus IT Department, also known as NIC (Network Information Centre) Cyprus. Applications for .cy domains can be made through an online portal, and there are various categories available, which include:
1. .com.cy – for commercial entities
2. .net.cy – for network related companies
3. .org.cy – for organizations
4. .ac.cy – for academic institutions
5. .name.cy – for individual personal names
There are several examples of companies and organizations that use the .cy domain. For instance, the website of the University of Nicosia (unic.ac.cy), the largest university in Cyprus, uses a .ac.cy domain as it is an academic institution. Another example is Hellenic Bank (hellenicbank.com.cy), one of the leading financial institutions in Cyprus uses a .com.cy domain because it is a commercial entity. Similarly, RIK (riknews.com.cy), the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, employs a .com.cy domain.
In terms of sources used for this information, the primary source is the official page for the University of Cyprus’ domain hosting services, which outlines the specific rules and categories for .cy domains. This is supplemented by direct examples from the websites of institutions that use the .cy domain. The basic explanation of what a TLD is and how it functions in the Domain Name System were sourced from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and methodologies of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring the network’s stable and secure operation.
Sources:
1. University of Cyprus’ Domain Hosting Services – https://www.nic.cy/
2. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – https://icann.org/
3. ISO 3166 Country Codes – https://www.iso.org/iso-3166-country-codes.html
4. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) – https://www.iana.org/
