As of the time of this writing, there is no officially recognized or widely accepted top-level domain (TLD) specifically named “.NEXT” according to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is the responsible organization for the global coordination of the domain name system, including the management of TLDs.
A top-level domain (TLD) is the last segment of a domain name, or the part that follows immediately after the “dot” symbol. TLDs are mainly classified into two categories: generic TLDs (such as .com, .net, .edu) and country-specific TLDs (such as .uk, .ca, .au). They are an integral part of the URL structure and play an important role in organizing the information space of the internet.
For example, among the most familiar TLDs are .com (commercial), .org (organization), .net (network), and .edu (education). Countries each have a unique two-letter TLD like .us for the United States, .ca for Canada and .uk for the United Kingdom. Other types of TLDs include sponsored TLDs and infrastructure TLDs.
The process of creating a new TLD involves an application to IANA and approval by ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). It is a stringent process that involves demonstrating a number of technical and financial capacities to ensure the prompt and stable operation of the new domain.
ICANN provides regular opportunities for entrepreneurs, organizations, or established domain registry services to apply for new top-level domains. In the latest round held in 2012, ICANN received over 1900 applications for new TLDs, of which approximately 1200 have been delegated (made active) in the DNS. These include geo-specific (like .nyc, .berlin), community-focused (like .bank, .pharmacy) and brand-specific (like .apple, .bbc) TLDs.
All this being said, while “.NEXT” is currently not an officially recognized TLD, it’s not precluded from being approved in the future, depending on ICANN’s regulations and approval processes. However, it’s worth noting that any attempt to use unapproved TLDs could lead to compatibility and accessibility issues with respect to the broader internet.
For a complete list of current TLDs and more detailed information on this, you may refer to IANA’s Root Zone Database (https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db).
Sources:
1. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, https://www.iana.org/
2. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, https://www.icann.org/
3. IANA — Root Zone Database, https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db
