The top-level domain (TLD) “.town” is a domain extension that is part of the generic top-level domain (gTLD) family. It was released to the public on 28th August, 2014 according to ICANN, the top-level governor of all internet domain names.
TLDs are the last segment of a domain name, usually following the final dot. Helping indicate the purpose or geographic location of the website, popular generic TLDs include .com, .org, .net, and so on.
The .town domain, resembling its name, is designed for towns and municipalities looking to expand their digital presence, businesses that operate within a local context, and communities looking to better represent themselves online. Such domains provide an opportunity to enable a stronger sense of identity and geographic identification, presenting an attractive opportunity to those looking to emphasize local affiliations.
For instance, a local bakery in Denver looking to highlight its localized operation might opt for a domain like “denverbakery.town” instead of “denverbakery.com”. Similarly, a town hall in Austin could utilize “austintownhall.town”, thereby creating strong, memorable web addresses clearly associated with specific regions or localities.
The management and oversight of the .town domain space is provided by Donuts Inc., – a company that has brought a range of novel TLDs to market since the ICANN decision to expand the TLD space. As such, the .town domain should be obtainable from most domain registrars that are partnered with Donuts Inc.
Understandably, the TLD space can feel overwhelming, given the vast number of gTLDs available. The selection of a TLD is deeply important, representing a key part of a web address that users see first. Just like the shift from typical phone communication to digital communication, the gTLD’s are going through a massive shift, paving the way for more customized and targeted domain names.
As revealed by nTLDStats, there are about 15,727 registered .town domains. While not amounting to a significant market share compared to popular TLD’s like .com (148,333,076 registered domains), it certainly carries importance to those seeking localized digital identities.
In conclusion, the .town domain space represents a valuable opportunity for local businesses, towns, cities, or services looking to carry a digital identity clearly affiliated with a locality. Like other gTLDs, it’s part of the evolving web landscape, representing the next generation in domain name usage.
Sources:
1. ICANN, https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/
2. Donuts Inc., http://donuts.domains/what-we-do/top-level-domains
3. nTLDStats, https://ntldstats.com/tld
4. Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/265677/number-of-internet-top-level-domains-worldwide/
