TLD Notes

Field Guide to Domains

Field Guide to Domains — A TLD Explorer

This site is an observational record and does not endorse any specific domain.

Specimen Catalog

Field Collection Index

Domain choices shown here reflect each organization's own decisions and are not endorsements by this site.

118 specimens
stripe.comStripe
Finance / FinTechClassical Era

Online payment infrastructure. Rapid growth through developer-friendly APIs.

📝 In the trust-critical payments space, the reliability of .com is essential.

notion.comNotion
SaaS / Web ServicesClassical Era

All-in-one workspace tool.

📝 Originally used notion.so, then migrated to .com as it grew. A textbook example of .com gravity.

shopify.comShopify
E-Commerce / RetailClassical Era

E-commerce platform empowering small and medium businesses to sell online.

📝 As an e-commerce backbone, consumer trust is paramount. A .com-only territory.

airbnb.comAirbnb
Travel / HospitalityClassical Era

Accommodation marketplace, expanding into experiences.

📝 A global consumer service spread by word of mouth — a memorable .com is essential.

replit.comReplit
Dev Tools / OSSClassical Era

Browser-based IDE with integrated AI code completion.

📝 Previously used repl.it. A classic pattern of migrating to .com after growth.

midjourney.comMidjourney
AI / MLClassical Era

AI image generation service, accessed via Discord.

📝 An AI company that chose .com over .ai — demonstrating .com gravity for consumer services.

slack.comSlack (Salesforce)
SaaS / Web ServicesClassical Era

Business messaging tool. Part of Salesforce.

📝 The quintessential enterprise SaaS .com. Slack's punchy name pairs perfectly with .com.

vercel.comVercel
Dev Tools / OSSClassical Era

Frontend deployment platform. Creator of Next.js.

📝 Developer-facing yet chose .com over .dev. Prioritizing platform-scale presence.

openai.comOpenAI
AI / MLClassical Era

Creator of ChatGPT and GPT series. AI research company.

📝 The leading AI company chose .com over .ai. Consumer reach trumps industry signaling.

figma.comFigma
Design / CreativeClassical Era

Collaborative UI design tool. Browser-based.

📝 figma.com, not figma.design. Even for design tools, .com wins when targeting the mass market.

behance.netBehance (Adobe)
Design / CreativeClassical Era

Creative portfolio platform.

📝 Kept .net even under Adobe. The "network" meaning works — it's a network of creatives.

battle.netBlizzard Entertainment
Gaming / EntertainmentClassical Era

Blizzard's gaming platform.

📝 Online since 1996. Battle + .net perfectly conveys online multiplayer combat.

slideshare.netSlideShare (Scribd)
Media / PublishingClassical Era

Presentation sharing platform.

📝 .net's "network" feel suits a knowledge-sharing platform. A legacy domain carried through the LinkedIn era.

speedtest.netOokla
SaaS / Web ServicesClassical Era

Internet connection speed testing service.

📝 speed + test + .net. A rare case where the TLD perfectly matches the purpose — measuring the net.

sourceforge.netSourceForge
Dev Tools / OSSClassical Era

Open source software hosting. A veteran predating GitHub.

📝 A symbolic early-2000s choice of .net as an OSS "network." A relic of pre-GitHub era.

wikipedia.orgWikimedia Foundation
NPO / Public SectorClassical Era

Free encyclopedia. Non-profit operation.

📝 The purest embodiment of the .org ethos. Synonymous with non-profit.

mozilla.orgMozilla
NPO / Public SectorClassical Era

Firefox developer. Non-profit advocating for the open web.

📝 A for-profit arm (Mozilla Corp) exists, but the .org foundation is the brand core.

python.orgPython Software Foundation
Dev Tools / OSSClassical Era

Official Python language site, run by PSF.

📝 A programming language choosing .org signals community-driven governance.

archive.orgInternet Archive
NPO / Public SectorClassical Era

Web archive and digital library. Famous for the Wayback Machine.

📝 The internet's memory. Embodying the .org non-profit spirit at the grandest scale.

apache.orgApache Software Foundation
Dev Tools / OSSClassical Era

OSS foundation managing Apache HTTP Server and more.

📝 A model of OSS governance. Foundation-run projects choosing .org is inevitable.

eff.orgElectronic Frontier Foundation
NPO / Public SectorClassical Era

Digital rights advocacy organization. Champions privacy and free expression.

📝 Guardian of digital civil liberties. .org clearly signals identity as a rights advocacy organization.

mercari.jpMercari
E-Commerce / RetailClassical Era

Japan's largest flea market app.

📝 A classic choice for Japan-focused services. Also holds mercari.com for international expansion.

cookpad.jpCookpad
Food / DiningClassical Era

Recipe sharing platform.

📝 Rooted in Japanese home cooking culture. The domestic feel of .jp fits perfectly.

qiita.jpQiita (A-Team)
Dev Tools / OSSClassical Era

Technical knowledge sharing service for engineers.

📝 Dedicated to the Japanese engineering community. .jp implies "a place to write in Japanese."

toyota.co.jpToyota
Manufacturing / HardwareClassical Era

Japan's largest automaker with global operations.

📝 A symbol of Japanese corporate identity. While toyota.com exists, the official Japanese site uses .co.jp.

sony.co.jpSony
Manufacturing / HardwareClassical Era

Electronics and entertainment conglomerate.

📝 A global brand, yet the Japanese corporate site uses .co.jp — a statement of trust and prestige.

nintendo.co.jpNintendo
Gaming / EntertainmentClassical Era

Global gaming company. Switch, Mario, and more.

📝 The pride of a Kyoto heritage company expressed through .co.jp.

github.ioGitHub
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

GitHub Pages hosting domain.

📝 An iconic example of .io becoming entrenched in tech/developer culture.

itch.ioitch.io
Gaming / EntertainmentccTLD Repurposing Era

Indie game distribution platform.

📝 The company name itself contains .io. The domain IS the brand identity.

socket.ioSocket.IO
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Real-time communication library. WebSocket abstraction.

📝 A classic tech library using .io. The I/O association maps directly to the library's function.

fly.ioFly.io
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Edge computing and app deployment platform.

📝 fly + .io. Naming that likens lightweight deployment to "flying." .io's established developer niche.

prisma.ioPrisma
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Next-generation ORM for Node.js and TypeScript.

📝 .io naturally fits an ORM that handles database "input/output."

codecov.ioCodecov (Sentry)
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Code coverage measurement and reporting service.

📝 Inhabits .io as part of the developer toolchain. Designed to integrate with CI pipelines.

render.ioRender
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Cloud application hosting. Noted as a Heroku alternative.

📝 Chose .io as a Heroku-generation migration target. The default TLD for developer platforms.

about.meAbout.me
Portfolio / PersonalccTLD Repurposing Era

Personal profile page creation service.

📝 about + .me = "about me." A textbook domain hack.

read.meReadMe
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

API documentation hosting platform.

📝 read + .me = "read me." A clever double meaning referencing README file culture.

buy.meBuy Me a Coffee
E-Commerce / RetailccTLD Repurposing Era

Creator support and tipping platform.

📝 buy + .me = "buy me (a coffee)." .me is ideal for the personal nature of creator support.

name.meName.me
Portfolio / PersonalccTLD Repurposing Era

Personal domain and profile service.

📝 name + .me = "name me." Pairing personal branding with the .me TLD.

resume.meResume.me
Portfolio / PersonalccTLD Repurposing Era

Online resume creation service.

📝 resume + .me. The .me TLD naturally harmonizes with a service about personal career history.

twitch.tvTwitch (Amazon)
Media / PublishingccTLD Repurposing Era

Live streaming platform, primarily for gaming.

📝 .tv functions perfectly as the identity for a video streaming service.

pluto.tvPluto TV (Paramount)
Media / PublishingccTLD Repurposing Era

Free ad-supported streaming service under Paramount.

📝 pluto + .tv. Expressing the return of free TV through the .tv TLD.

arte.tvARTE
Media / PublishingccTLD Repurposing Era

Franco-German public broadcaster specializing in culture and documentaries.

📝 A European public broadcaster adopting .tv. For broadcasters, .tv is the most intuitive TLD.

plex.tvPlex
Media / PublishingccTLD Repurposing Era

Media server and streaming service.

📝 A home media library tool choosing .tv. The association with video content is unmistakable.

anime.tvAnime TV
Media / PublishingccTLD Repurposing Era

Anime information and streaming portal.

📝 anime + .tv. A natural fusion of Japanese anime culture with the .tv domain.

discord.ggDiscord
Social / CommunityccTLD Repurposing Era

Communication platform. Uses .gg for invite links.

📝 Uses .gg exclusively for invite URLs. GG = Good Game — embodying gamer culture.

op.ggOP.GG
Gaming / EntertainmentccTLD Repurposing Era

Game stats tracking service for LoL and more.

📝 OP (overpowered) + .gg. A double dose of gamer slang.

kick.ggKick
Media / PublishingccTLD Repurposing Era

Live streaming platform. A Twitch competitor.

📝 A game streaming platform choosing .gg. Adopting the gamer TLD to differentiate from Twitch (.tv).

champion.ggChampion.gg
Gaming / EntertainmentccTLD Repurposing Era

LoL champion statistics and build guides.

📝 champion + .gg = a perfect gaming terminology match. The default TLD for esports data sites.

loot.ggLoot.gg
Gaming / EntertainmentccTLD Repurposing Era

In-game item trading and information platform.

📝 loot (spoils of war) + .gg. .gg functioning as the domain of the gaming economy.

deno.shDeno
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

TypeScript/JavaScript runtime by the creator of Node.js.

📝 .sh evokes shell scripting. Natural affinity with CLI tools and runtimes.

railway.shRailway
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Cloud deployment platform.

📝 Deploy = terminal operations. .sh resonates with developers.

bun.shBun
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Fast JavaScript runtime, bundler, and package manager.

📝 Following Deno into .sh territory. "bun install" and other CLI commands resonate with .sh.

charm.shCharm
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Terminal UI (TUI) toolkit. Go-based CLI framework.

📝 A terminal-tool company using .sh by necessity. charm + .sh = "charming shell."

warp.shWarp
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

Next-gen terminal app built in Rust with AI assistance.

📝 A terminal app choosing .sh is the most natural outcome. The evolution of the shell.

perplexity.aiPerplexity
AI / MLAI Specialization Era

AI search engine offering answer-generation search.

📝 The most straightforward case of an AI company using .ai. Industry and TLD in perfect alignment.

stability.aiStability AI
AI / MLAI Specialization Era

Creator of Stable Diffusion. Open-source AI advocate.

📝 AI in the company name AND the domain. A double industry signal.

character.aiCharacter.AI
AI / MLAI Specialization Era

Platform for conversations with AI characters.

📝 character + .ai spells out "AI character." A clever domain hack.

cohere.aiCohere
AI / MLAI Specialization Era

Enterprise LLM provider with strength in RAG.

📝 A B2B AI company choosing .ai. Even in enterprise, .ai serves as an AI business card.

jasper.aiJasper
AI / MLAI Specialization Era

AI writing tool for marketing.

📝 .ai reinforces brand value even in applied fields like marketing AI.

runway.aiRunway
AI / MLAI Specialization Era

AI video generation tool. Known for Gen-2/Gen-3 models.

📝 Creative AI choosing .ai. A domain that expresses the fusion of art and AI in one word.

mistral.aiMistral AI
AI / MLAI Specialization Era

French open-source LLM developer.

📝 A European AI company adopting .ai. mistral (seasonal wind) + .ai — a poetic combination.

web.devGoogle
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Google's web developer resource site.

📝 Google Registry using its own TLD for its own service. The .dev gold standard.

flutter.devGoogle
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Cross-platform UI framework.

📝 Another Google property. Consistent use of .dev for developer tool official sites.

github.devGitHub
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Browser-based VS Code environment. Activated by pressing "." in a repository.

📝 Holds .com, .io, and .dev — a developer platform TLD triple crown.

thirdweb.devthirdweb
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Web3 developer SDK and infrastructure platform.

📝 A Web3 dev tool choosing .dev. Even in blockchain, .dev feels natural for developer-facing products.

glitch.devGlitch
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Browser-based coding and hosting environment.

📝 A community-driven dev environment. .dev reinforces the identity as "a place to build."

deno.devDeno
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Deno Deploy hosting domain.

📝 Dual wielding deno.sh and deno.dev — .sh for the runtime, .dev for deployments.

linear.appLinear
SaaS / Web ServicesNew gTLD Diversification

Project management tool known for its fast UI.

📝 Product name maps directly to the domain. .app reinforces the application feel.

cash.appCash App (Block)
Finance / FinTechNew gTLD Diversification

P2P payment app under Block (formerly Square).

📝 cash + .app intuitively communicates the service. A prime example.

bsky.appBluesky
Social / CommunityNew gTLD Diversification

Decentralized social network using the AT Protocol.

📝 bsky abbreviation + .app. A natural choice for a tech-oriented social network.

craft.appCraft
SaaS / Web ServicesNew gTLD Diversification

Document and note-taking app. Apple Design Award winner.

📝 craft + .app. The domain expresses the product's quality and craftsmanship.

poe.appPoe (Quora)
AI / MLNew gTLD Diversification

Chat platform providing access to multiple AI models.

📝 An AI aggregator by Quora. poe + .app conveys a simple, app-like feel.

dashlane.appDashlane
SaaS / Web ServicesNew gTLD Diversification

Password manager. Security-focused SaaS.

📝 A security app choosing .app. The HTTPS-enforcing .app aligns with security-conscious branding.

notion.appNotion
SaaS / Web ServicesNew gTLD Diversification

Notion's mobile app distribution domain.

📝 Holds .com, .so, and .app. A strategy of using different TLDs for different platforms.

material.designGoogle
Design / CreativeNew gTLD Diversification

Google's design system. Official Material Design site.

📝 material + .design. The ideal form: a design system name that IS the domain.

sketch.designSketch
Design / CreativeNew gTLD Diversification

UI design tool for macOS. A Figma competitor.

📝 The most intuitive case of a design tool using .design. Tool name and TLD resonate.

uber.designUber
Design / CreativeNew gTLD Diversification

Uber's official design team site.

📝 A tech company's design team claiming its own .design domain. Functions as a design culture hub.

system.designSystem Design
Education / AcademiaNew gTLD Diversification

System design learning resource.

📝 system + .design. The TLD works on two levels — design as discipline and as technical architecture.

canva.designCanva
Design / CreativeNew gTLD Diversification

Online design tool, widely adopted by non-designers.

📝 canva.com is the main site, but also holds .design. Part of a design-tool company's TLD strategy.

abc.xyzAlphabet
StartupsNew gTLD Diversification

Google's parent company Alphabet official site.

📝 abc + .xyz = "the whole alphabet." The world's most famous new gTLD adoption.

block.xyzBlock (formerly Square)
Finance / FinTechNew gTLD Diversification

Payment and financial technology company.

📝 Chose .xyz during rebrand. Aiming to break away from traditional finance imagery.

mirror.xyzMirror
Media / PublishingNew gTLD Diversification

Web3-based publishing platform.

📝 A Web3 media platform choosing .xyz. .xyz functions as a signal for "the new internet."

chain.xyzChain
Finance / FinTechNew gTLD Diversification

Blockchain infrastructure company.

📝 A blockchain company adopting .xyz. Demonstrates the strong affinity between crypto/Web3 and .xyz.

paradigm.xyzParadigm
Finance / FinTechNew gTLD Diversification

Crypto-focused venture capital firm.

📝 A crypto VC choosing .xyz. The investor side embodying .xyz standardization in the Web3 ecosystem.

ces.techCES (CTA)
Media / PublishingNew gTLD Diversification

World's largest consumer electronics trade show, held annually in Las Vegas.

📝 The most straightforward case of a tech conference using .tech.

viva.techVivaTech
Media / PublishingNew gTLD Diversification

One of Europe's largest tech conferences, held in Paris.

📝 viva + .tech = "long live tech." A celebratory domain for Europe's tech festival.

builtin.techBuilt In
Media / PublishingNew gTLD Diversification

Tech company recruiting and culture media platform.

📝 A tech recruiting media choosing .tech. TLD and target audience in alignment.

georgia.techGeorgia Institute of Technology
Education / AcademiaNew gTLD Diversification

A top US engineering university, commonly known as Georgia Tech.

📝 georgia + .tech matches the university's nickname. A notable new gTLD adoption by academia.

lametric.techLaMetric
Manufacturing / HardwareNew gTLD Diversification

Smart display and IoT device manufacturer.

📝 A hardware startup choosing .tech. Emphasizing the product's technology orientation.

dji.storeDJI
E-Commerce / RetailNew gTLD Diversification

Leading drone manufacturer's official online store.

📝 Separate from the main site (dji.com) — using .store specifically for e-commerce.

line.storeLINE (LY Corporation)
E-Commerce / RetailNew gTLD Diversification

Official store for LINE stickers and themes.

📝 Separate from the main domain (line.me) with a dedicated .store for e-commerce. A specimen from Japan's messenger ecosystem.

huawei.storeHuawei
E-Commerce / RetailNew gTLD Diversification

Huawei's official online store.

📝 Separating the corporate site from e-commerce. A .store pattern common among global manufacturers.

xiaomi.storeXiaomi
E-Commerce / RetailNew gTLD Diversification

Xiaomi's official online store.

📝 Like Huawei, a Chinese tech giant adopting .store. Explicit separation of e-commerce functionality.

gopro.storeGoPro
E-Commerce / RetailNew gTLD Diversification

Action camera manufacturer's official e-commerce.

📝 Runs a dedicated store domain separate from gopro.com. A .store use case for direct hardware sales.

angel.coAngelList
Finance / FinTechccTLD Repurposing Era

Startup fundraising and recruiting platform.

📝 An early adopter leveraging .co's "company" association. Strong affinity with startup culture.

drop.coDrop
E-Commerce / RetailccTLD Repurposing Era

Community-driven e-commerce, strong in niche products like keyboards.

📝 Formerly massdrop.com — rebranded to a shorter .co domain. A migration toward brevity.

mixpanel.coMixpanel
SaaS / Web ServicesccTLD Repurposing Era

Product analytics platform for visualizing user behavior.

📝 Holds both .com and .co, using the latter as a short URL. .co's brevity at work.

statuspage.coStatuspage (Atlassian)
SaaS / Web ServicesccTLD Repurposing Era

Service status communication pages. Part of Atlassian.

📝 An infrastructure SaaS choosing .co — shorter and more professional than the .com alternative.

parsely.coParse.ly (Automattic)
SaaS / Web ServicesccTLD Repurposing Era

Content analytics tool for media companies.

📝 Chose .co for a specialized media analytics niche. Acquired by Automattic, the WordPress.com parent.

notion.soNotion (original domain)
SaaS / Web ServicesccTLD Repurposing Era

The domain Notion used before its growth phase.

📝 .so's scarcity appealed to the early startup. Later migrated to .com, leaving .so as a historical specimen.

go.soGo.so
SaaS / Web ServicesccTLD Repurposing Era

URL shortening service.

📝 go + .so achieves an extremely short domain. A use case where .so's two-letter brevity shines.

who.soWho.so
Dev Tools / OSSccTLD Repurposing Era

WHOIS lookup tool for quick domain information.

📝 who + .so forms a domain hack meaning "who's so?" — fitting for a domain investigation tool.

domains.fyiDomains FYI
Media / PublishingNew gTLD Diversification

Domain name information resource site.

📝 domains + .fyi = "domains, for your information." The TLD itself conveys an informational stance.

status.fyiStatus FYI
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Service status monitoring tool.

📝 status + .fyi = "status, for your information." Natural fit between .fyi and notification services.

salary.fyiSalary FYI
Media / PublishingNew gTLD Diversification

Tech salary information sharing site.

📝 .fyi perfectly matches salary data — information you should know. Signals a stance of transparency.

opensource.pageOpen Source Page
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Introduction page for open source projects.

📝 opensource + .page. The single-page information format harmonizes with the .page TLD.

about.pageAbout Page
Portfolio / PersonalNew gTLD Diversification

Personal and business about page creation service.

📝 about + .page = literally "about page." Unlike .me, this choice emphasizes the "page" artifact.

hosting.pageHosting Page
Dev Tools / OSSNew gTLD Diversification

Hosting service comparison and information page.

📝 hosting + .page. A good example of .page suiting landing pages and documentation.

invision.studioInVision
Design / CreativeNew gTLD Diversification

InVision's desktop design tool.

📝 Matched the TLD to the product name "Studio." A natural pairing of design tool and .studio.

figura.studioFigura
Design / CreativeNew gTLD Diversification

Creative design studio.

📝 figura (form/figure) + .studio. A production company expressing "studio" through the TLD itself.

berlin.studioBerlin Studio
Design / CreativeNew gTLD Diversification

Berlin-based digital design studio.

📝 City name + .studio. Condensing the creative energy of Berlin into a domain.

zozo.jpZOZO
E-Commerce / RetailClassical Era

Operates ZOZOTOWN, one of Japan's largest fashion e-commerce platforms.

📝 A fashion e-commerce leader. Maintains .jp as a symbol of Japan-market specialization.

sansan.jpSansan
SaaS / Web ServicesClassical Era

Business card management and sales DX platform. B2B SaaS.

📝 A SaaS rooted in Japanese business culture (meishi exchange). .jp signals domestic B2B market focus.

hatena.jpHatena
Media / PublishingClassical Era

Web company operating Hatena Blog, Hatena Bookmark, and more.

📝 A veteran that shaped Japanese web culture. .jp evokes a sense of home base for the Japanese-language community.

freee.co.jpfreee
Finance / FinTechClassical Era

Cloud accounting software for SMBs and sole proprietors.

📝 A SaaS company that chose .co.jp for its B2B nature. A trust signal for corporate clients.

panasonic.co.jpPanasonic
Manufacturing / HardwareClassical Era

Diversified electronics manufacturer, from home appliances to industrial equipment.

📝 A pillar of Japanese manufacturing. .co.jp asserts legitimacy as a Japanese corporation.

rakuten.co.jpRakuten Group
E-Commerce / RetailClassical Era

One of Japan's largest e-commerce malls, expanding into finance and telecom.

📝 The gateway to the Rakuten ecosystem. A .co.jp domain symbolizing Japanese e-commerce culture.

honda.co.jpHonda
Manufacturing / HardwareClassical Era

Automobile and motorcycle manufacturer, also entering robotics.

📝 Like Toyota, the Japanese corporate site uses .co.jp. The split with honda.com is noteworthy.