The “.java” top-level domain does not technically exist within the set parameters laid out by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization that supervises domain names across the internet. Therefore, it is impossible to provide a technical description of the “.java” TLD because it is not officially recognized or utilized.
The mention of “.java” might lead to some confusion, as Java is indeed a high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems (now part of Oracle Corporation) but this has no direct relevance with the top-level domain subject. Java as a programming language is used in various areas, including enterprise-level applications, mobile applications, games, and even in the development of the Android operating system.
The top-level domains (TLDs) are part of the domain name system (DNS) of the Internet, and they are the highest hierarchy in the DNS. They are installed in the root zone of the domain namespace. According to ICANN, TLDs can be classified into several types, including country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) like “.uk” or “.us”, generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like “.com” or “.org”, etc.
As stated by StatCounter Global Stats, as of September 2021, the most common TLDs worldwide are “.com,” “.ru,” “.org,” “.net,” and “.uk” with “.com” leading far ahead with a market share of around 51%. Obviously, “.java” isn’t in the list since it has never been registered as a TLD.
In case you are looking forward to registering “.java” as TLD, there are long and costly procedures to follow. New gTLD applications, as defined by the Applicant Guidebook from ICANN, are a complex process that takes at least nine months and costs $185,000 USD. And that doesn’t include any legal, developing, and ongoing registry costs. This process, among other measures, will include evaluation for potential security risks.
In conclusion, it’s important not to confuse Java, the programming language, with a hypothetical “.java” Top Level Domain, that does not exist in the current internet domain namespace.
Sources:
1. ICANN – https://www.icann.org/
2. StatCounter Global Stats – http://gs.statcounter.com/
3. The Applicant Guidebook from ICANN – https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb
4. Oracle Corporation – https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/
