The top-level domain (TLD) “.GIFT” is one of the hundreds of generic TLDs (gTLDs) that are currently available for the usage to the public, as per the guidelines of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for maintaining and regulating the internet’s domain name system.
In the context of the internet, a TLD is a part of the domain name which is located at the rightmost position. For example, in the web address “www.example.gift”, “.gift” is the TLD. The “.GIFT” TLD is managed by Uniregistry, a company that owns over 20 new gTLDs, as of ICANN, the authoritative source for domain names.
The “.GIFT” TLD was designed for online gift-giving and shopping ecosystems and was made available to the public on August 14, 2013. Any business, individual, or organization looking for a unique web presence can register a “.GIFT” domain, making it perfect for gift shops, gift-card vendors, registry sites, and anyone who blogs about gift-giving.
The “.GIFT” TLD provides an industry-specific signature for businesses engaged in the gifting industry thereby enhancing brand visibility, showcasing their offerings and serving as direct navigation to gift-related products or services. For instance, a gift company named ‘BrightBox’ could use the domain ‘www.brightbox.gift’. Similarly, a blogger writing about creative gift ideas could use a domain like ‘www.creative.gift’.
“.GIFT”, as like all other TLDs, supports Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) in various scripts to facilitate non-English speakers to access web pages in their native languages. DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is also supported, to ensure the security of the domain from potential cyber threats.
Relevant domain information is detailed in the ICANN’s gTLD Applicant Guidebook and domain registrars websites. The equivalent for this is found in that document under the ‘Registration Policies’ module, which states that the rules for domain registration and allotment are governed by the domain registrar under the guidelines set by ICANN. Pricing for the “.GIFT” TLD can vary, depending on the chosen domain name registrar.
The registration service for .GIFT, like many other TLDs, generally includes extra services like free domain parking, free forwarding, free stealth forwarding, free DNS setup, and free domain transfer.
Sources:
1. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) www.icann.org
2. Uniregistry www.uniregistry.com
3. gTLD Applicant Guidebook www.icann.org/resources/pages/applicants-guidebook-2012-06-04-en
4. Domain registrars (Example: name.com, godaddy.com)
