The top-level domain (TLD) “.hm” is an internet country code assigned to the Heard Island and McDonald Islands. TLDs are a key part of the Domain Name System (DNS), with each TLD indicating something about the domain name associated with it. They are the last segment of a domain name, appearing after the final dot. For example, in the domain name “www.example.com”, the TLD is “.com”.
The “.hm” TLD is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD), which are generally assigned to a specific country or a territory. In this case, “.hm” is assigned to the Heard Island and McDonald Islands, two uninhabited volcanic islands located in the Southern Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. The islands are territories of Australia, but each has its own specific ccTLD.
CcTLDs are managed by a designated organization within the country to which they’re assigned. According to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) – the responsible authority for the global coordination of the DNS Root, IP addressing, and other Internet protocol resources – the “.hm” ccTLD is managed by the Australian Government Department of Communications and the Arts.
However, interestingly enough, the “.hm” domain registration does not seem to be widely available for public use. For a domain under most ccTLDs, one could simply go to a domain registrar and register it. However, this isn’t the case for “.hm”. The Australian Government Department of Communications and the Arts does not currently allow the public to register “.hm” domain names. In fact, there is very little information available about this TLD, apparently due to the uninhabited nature of Heard Island and McDonald Islands. In contrast, Australia’s other main TLD – “.au” – is widely used and available for registration by the public.
In conclusion, TLDs play a vital role in the structure of the internet, providing fundamental information about every domain. They can represent a variety of areas, from generic indicators like “.com” or “.org” for businesses and organizations, to specific country codes like “.hm” for Heard Island and McDonald Islands. However, the availability and restrictions on these TLDs vary widely, with some, like “.hm”, not readily available to the public.
Sources used:
1. “Root Zone Database”, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
1. “About .HM Domain Names”, Godaddy.
1. Zook, Matthew A. “The Geographies of the Domain Name System: From ‘.com’ to
‘.kyoto’”. Global Media and Communication, 2010.
1. “IANA — .hm Domain Delegation Data”, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
1. “Heard Island and McDonald Islands”. The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency.
