The top-level domain (TLD) “.sk” is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Slovakia, a landlocked country located in Central Europe. The assignment of the “.sk” domain suffix falls under the responsibility of SK-NIC, a.s., a subsidiary of the multinational corporation CentralNic Group. This domain extension was created in 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, and it replaced the previous “.cs” domain that had been assigned to Czechoslovakia.
The SK-NIC’s regime for the assignment of “.sk” domain names implies that any physical person or legal entity can register a domain under the “.sk” top-level domain. However, to preserve the Slovak cultural online identity, SK-NIC has set some restrictions. According to the rules set by the SK-NIC, domain names that are in breach of the Slovak law, morality, or those that can mislead or defraud internet users are not allowed.
One of the most prominent websites that operate under a “.sk” domain is the news portal sme.sk, which provides daily updates about both local and international news. Another example is the web version of the television channel Markiza, tvmarkiza.sk, which provides access to live streaming and additional content for their shows.
Subdomains are also accepted under “.sk”. It is notable for its second-level domains such as “.co.sk”, often used by companies, and “.org.sk”, used by organizations. Recognizable websites that operate under these second-level domain make use of the extension to highlight their role in Slovakia. Some second-level domains are reserved for particular types of organizations, such as “.edu.sk” for educational institutions and “.gov.sk” for government entities.
Sources used to establish this information include ICANN, the organization that oversees domain name allocation globally, and the SK-NIC itself, from which much of the specific rules around “.sk” domain name allocation were sourced. It is important to consult authoritative resources when determining rules around top-level domain allocation, as policies can change over time and differ between different domain names. Additionally, websites such as Alexa, which provide statistics on web usage, were consulted to determine popular “.sk” domain names. This information is accurate as of the time of writing but subject to change as the internet continues to evolve.
SK-NIC: Domain Rules: https://www.sk-nic.sk/en/Rules/
ICANN: ccTLD Database: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/cctld-2012-02-25-en
Alexa: Top Websites in Slovakia: https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/SK
