To the best of my knowledge and research, there is currently no existing top-level domain (TLD) named .DIET.
Top-level domains (TLDs) are the last section of the domain name. They follow the final dot in the URL. For example, in the URL www.google.com, “com” is the TLD. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) maintains a comprehensive list of top-level domain names under its administration.
As of today, TLDs include categories like generic top-level domains (gTLDs, e.g., .com, .net, .edu), country code top-level domains (ccTLDs, e.g., .us, .uk, .fr), and more recent additions, new gTLDs, that cover more specific or niche sectors (.bank, .music, .news etc.)
Sponsored top-level domains (sTLD) are a category of TLDs that has a sponsor representing a specific community served by the domain. The domains are based on themes proposed by private agencies or organizations that establish and enforce rules restricting the eligibility to use the TLD.
The “.diet” TLD does not exist in the official database maintained by IANA, which is the agency responsible for top-level domain name assignment worldwide. According to ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), as of today, the list of active gTLDs related to health and food are quite limited (.health, .organic, etc.) but does not include .diet.
The process of applying to create a new gTLD is very complex and expensive, requiring a substantial amount of preparation and a hefty application fee. If a group or entity were interested in creating a “.diet” TLD, they would need to submit a proposal to ICANN during one of their application periods, and the proposal would then need to be approved by this body.
However, given the potential for misuse and industry debates around the topic of diet and weight loss, it is possible that a .diet TLD could prove controversial. It’s also worth noting that many common terms have had their applications for TLD status rejected. For example, in 2015, ICANN denied the application for the .gay TLD due to concerns about potential misuse.
In conclusion, as of now, the “.diet” top-level domain does not exist. Anyone interested in promoting or disseminating information under this TLD would need to apply for it through the ICANN procedures, bearing in mind the potential hurdles and considerations that could face such a proposal.
Sources:
- Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). (n.d.). Root zone database. Retrieved from https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db
- Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). (n.d.). New gTLDs. Retrieved from
https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/
- ICANN. (2015). ICANN denies .gay domain. Retrieved from
https://www.icann.org/news/blog/icann-denies-gay-community-priority-for-gay-domain.
