The top-level domain (TLD) “.gl” is attributable to Greenland. Top-level domains, in essence, are the letters located at the end of a web address, such as ‘.com’, ‘.org’, ‘.net’, and ‘.edu’, just to state a few examples. These domains have become essential tools for various organizations, businesses, governments, and individuals for establishing an online identity.
According to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) database, “.gl” was encompassed as a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) on October 6, 1994 (source: ICANN). A ccTLD is a two-letter top-level domain specifically designated for a particular nation or a sovereign state. Each country globally has been designated a specific ccTLD. For instance, ‘.us’ is for the United States, ‘.au’ for Australia, ‘.jp’ for Japan and ‘.gl’ for Greenland.
While the ccTLD “.gl” was specifically created for Greenland, it is not restricted just to the residents or companies in Greenland. In fact, several businesses and individuals outside the country use it too. The management and maintenance of this TLD are taken care of by TELE Greenland, which is the national telecom company.
It’s also interesting to add, that besides its obvious intention, the .gl domain has been adopted by companies for clever domain hacks capitalizing on the English words ending with “gl” (like googl.gl), and also by the tech community due to GL often referring to Graphics Library, such as in OpenGL (source: domainnamestat).
In a larger picture, TLDs like ‘.gl’ have gained more prominence in the recent digital age, with an ever-growing number of internet users. They are not only identifiers of geographical regions but have also become tools for strategic branding and marketing. TLDs can assist online businesses in targeting specific markets, improving SEO rankings, and enhancing brand recognition.
The registration process for a ‘.gl’ domain involves similar procedures to most other domain registrations. This includes determining the domain’s availability, filling a registration application, paying the necessary fees, and abiding by the established policies and regulations. You may consult with domain name registrars like Gandi or 101domain for detailed procedures and guidelines (source: Gandi, 101domain).
To sum up, the top-level domain “.gl” represents Greenland but isn’t limited to the Greenland region. It is an effective tool for online identification, utilized by businesses and individuals for various purposes, including geographical indications, brand marketing, and strategic domain hacks.
Sources:
1. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
2. DomainNameStat
3. TELE Greenland
4. Gandi
5. 101domain
