The top-level domain (TLD) .WF is the internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Wallis and Futuna, which is a French overseas territory in Polynesia. It is administered by the French national domain registry operator, Association Française pour le Nommage Internet en Coopération (A.F.N.I.C.), which is based in Paris, France.
When it comes to defining a technical description, ccTLDs like .WF are used to indicate that the website or domain is associated with a specific country or a distinct region. Such specific domain naming conventions are generally crucial for websites aiming to target a specific demographic or geographic audience, enhancing local search engine optimization (SEO), establishing trust within a localized market, or showing allegiance to a specific location.
The .WF TLD was delegated through the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), an authority that oversees the allocation of IP addresses and domain names. The delegation and administration of .WF took place according to the principles outlined in RFC 1591, a standard that governs the operation and assignment of second-level domains under ccTLDs.
Unlike generic TLDs like .com or .org, country code TLDs like .WF follow a registration policy that aligns with nation-specific guidelines or peoples’ affiliation with that region. Websites with a .WF domain might consist of businesses, organizations, or individuals from or targeting Wallis and Futuna. However, AFNIC decided in December 2011 to open the .WF domain to all individuals and businesses in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the overseas territories of France.
The registration of a .WF domain includes a primary DNS server and a secondary DNS server. The DNS servers distribute directories relating a domain name to an IP address.
It’s noteworthy that the use of the .WF TLD is somewhat scarce, as many entities in Wallis and Futuna might prefer globally recognized TLDs like .com or .org for broader visibility.
Sources used to gather this information include IANA’s official website which documents the delegation record for .WF (https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt), documentation on AFNIC’s official website (https://www.afnic.fr/en/products-and-services/services/order-your-domain-name-3/choose-your-extension-4/wallis-and-futuna-21.html), and an RFC explaining the guidelines for the creation of ccTLDs (https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1591.txt).
