The top-level domain (TLD) for “.li” is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the principality of Liechtenstein, a small country located in Central Europe between Switzerland and Austria. Top-level domains constitute the last segment of the domain name. They are responsible for giving users an idea of the purpose or the geographical location of a certain web page. The “.li” domain falls under the heading of ccTLD which was initially intended to signify websites that have a connection to specific countries or zones. The significance of this domaine “.li” is studied in detail in the article “The Analysis and Classification of Top-Level Domains”,from 2008 IEEE Fourth International Conference on eScience.
The “.li” domain was introduced 1993 and is administrated by SWITCH, the Foundation for the Swiss Education and Research Network. If a person or an organization wants to register a “.li” domain, they can do it through many different registrars. There are no particular restrictions on who can register a “.li” domain and it is often used by companies or individuals who have a connection to Liechtenstein. An interesting note is that, because “li” is a common suffix in English (ex: simply, possibly), there are English-language sites that have purchased .li domains for the novelty value of using this in their web address, as the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) makes clear in its report of “IANA Report on the Delegation of the .li domain representing Liechtenstein to Universität Liechtenstein”.
One can find several examples of websites using the “.li” domain. For example, the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein uses the domain for its official website: www.regierung.li. Other examples can include various local businesses or corporations few of which are LIECHTENSTEIN Marketing (www.liechtenstein-marketing.li), University of Liechtenstein (www.uni.li), and LGT Bank (www.lgt.li).
In conclusion, the “.li” top-level domain name gives a hint for internet users about the possible geographical context of a website or a direct connection with the principality of Liechtenstein. Regardless, it is not limited to use within the country and is available for use globally, with a growing trend towards creative uses of TLDs to create meaningful and memorable website addresses. This account on the “.li” domain reflects the details given in the Domain Name Handbook of H.R. Register (Ellen & Peter Rony, 1998).
