The “.tatar” top-level domain (TLD) is a community-specific TLD that was designed and intended for the use of the diverse Tatar community worldwide. Top-level domains are the last part of every domain name and are critical components of the Domain Name System (DNS) that helps to organize and identify the numerous websites existing on the internet. Examples of other more common TLDs include .com for commercial organizations or .org for non-profit organizations.
The “.tatar” TLD on the other hand is one of the new breed of TLDs that were opened for registration in recent years by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). These new TLDs offer more specific identification, targeting different communities, locations, industries or interests.
As per ICANN records, the “.tatar” TLD was delegated to the registry operator “Limited Liability Company “Coordination Center of Regional Domain of Tatarstan Republic” on August 16, 2014. The purpose of the .tatar domain, as defined during the ICANN application process, is to serve the cultural, linguistic and economic interests of the global Tatar community, an ethnic group primarily located in Russia, the former Soviet Union states and throughout the world. Everyone who has direct or indirect relation to Tatarstan, Tatars and Tatar language and culture can register in .TATAR domain.
The Tatars are an ethnolinguistic group, primarily living in Russia, Ukraine, and other post-Soviet countries. The Tatar culture has a rich history and is expressed through various mediums including their language, food, music, and online presence. The “.tatar” TLD aims to further solidify and digitalize this cultural heritage. It provides an opportunity to create unique and recognizable web addresses for notable Tatar entities, ranging from businesses, governmental institutions to cultural or individual projects, all tied together by their association with Tatar identity.
Examples of websites using the .tatar TLD include www.medrese.tatar, an educational institution aimed at promoting Tatar culture; www.qazan.tatar, a guide to the city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan; and www.bolgar.tatar, a website for Bolgar State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve.
Sources:
1. “Delegated Strings”. ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings
2. “TLD Startup Information”. ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/sunrise-claims-periods/tatar
3. .TATAR Domain. Retrieved from https://get.tatar/en/
4. Tatarstan Republic. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Tatarstan
