As of my last update, there isn’t a top-level domain (TLD) that is “.weir.” Top-level domains are the last segment of a domain name – the part that comes immediately after the “dot” symbol. They provide people who see or hear the domain with an idea of what to expect if they visit the site.
Currently, recognized top-level domains are categorized into gTLD (generic top-level domains), ccTLD (country code top-level domains), and sTLD (sponsored top-level domains). Examples of the first category include familiar endings such as .com, .net, .org, .edu, and new ones such as .app, .blog, and .email. ccTLDs include .us, .uk, .ca, representing U.S., the United Kingdom, and Canada respectively.
TLDs like .edu for educational institutions, .gov for U.S. government entities or .mil for the U.S. military fall under sTLD category. Occasionally, businesses or organizations will create brand TLDs for marketing or branding purposes, like .google or .apple but there’s currently no .weir domain in general use, or recognized by The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
ICANN is a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases, including the root domain name system, related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring the network’s stable and secure operation. They govern the introduction of any new TLDs and maintain the current list, which does not include .weir.
If you or anyone else wanted to create a “.weir” TLD though, it would be a lengthy and costly process. ICANN opens application periods, known as “New gTLD Application Rounds”, in which any established public or private organization from anywhere in the world can apply for a new top-level domain. The application fee is $185,000 and the process involves demonstrating the operational, technical and financial capability to run a registry, consideration of any objections, and potential for auction if there’s more than one qualified applicant for the same TLD.
However, it’s worth noting that even if ICANN approves a new TLD it doesn’t mean it will be universally recognized across all devices and platforms. New TLDs face issues such as a delay in universal acceptance, as older systems, databases, or applications might not immediately recognize or correctly process them.
Sources:
- Official ICANN website: www.icann.org
- Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Root Zone Database: www.iana.org/domains/root/db
- ICANN Wiki – New gTLD Application: icannwiki.org/New_gTLD_Application
- New gTLD Applicant Guidebook: newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb
- ICANN, Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG): www.uasg.tech
