In the vast ocean of the internet, where countless websites float, domain names act as anchors, holding them in place. When it comes to web hosting, they play an important role, but it may come as a surprise that there are many types of domain names out there.
Each has its own purpose, from general domains to internationalized country code top-level and country code top-level domains (ccTLD).
What Is a Country Code Top-Level Domain?
A ccTLD is a top-level domain that’s linked to a specific country or region. These unique domains are more than just a combination of letters – they represent nations and regions. Every country has a domain name reserved for it, which is usually two letters long and is assigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
So, Why Choose a Country Code Domain?
Since a ccTLD acts like a virtual flag for businesses, it’s a smart way to establish a local presence, build trust, and deeply connect with the target audience.
Moreover, search engines often prioritize ccTLDs for local searches, granting your website a prominent position in search results. So, whether you’re an entrepreneur, blogger, or a business, adopting a country code domain will undoubtedly add charm and distinction to your online presence.
When Should You Get a Country Code Domain?
When choosing a domain name, it’s important to consider long-term goals, brand strategy, and your target audience since the end result must be optimized for every scenario.
While general top-level domains offer many benefits, sometimes opting for a country code domain name can be the right move. Here are some examples of when using a country code domain name may come in handy for your business:
- If your primary target audience is in a specific country or region, a ccTLD helps establish a strong local presence.
- If your business is closely tied to a particular country or culture, using a ccTLD makes your website more relatable and relevant to visitors of said geographical area.
- If you’re expanding your business to a new country, relying on a ccTLD helps you tailor your website content, products, and services to a specific market.
- When you want to prevent others from misusing or squatting on domain names related to a pre-existing one.
- When you want to showcase compliance with local laws – certain industries or types of content can be subject to specific regulations in different locations.
- When generic top-level domains are unavailable, a ccTLD can provide more options and availability for your desired domain name.
How To Get a Country Code Top-Level Domain
With all this in mind, it’s clear that researching and understanding your long-term goals is key to choosing the right domain name. So, once you’re settled on your domain name, you’ll need to find a trustworthy domain registrar to officially secure it.
There are several providers out there that will register your domain with little hassle. Name.com is a perfect example of a well-grounded domain registrar. Being in the industry since 2003, Name.com is an attractive option that provides users with a simple and easy-to-navigate solution.
Here’s the cherry on top: Name.com offers free domain registrations when subscribing to a web hosting plan, which can be an amazing opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
Platforms such as Name.com provide several free ccTLD registrations when subscribing to web hosting plans. Nonetheless, acquiring domain names with or without other services couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is:
- Search for your desired domain name in the provider’s search bar to check its availability.
- Once you find it, follow the simple registration process.
- Confirm the purchase.
- Now, all that’s left to do is celebrate the beginning of your digital identity.
Embracing Your New Journey
Now that you know why ccTLDs are essential, why you should use them, and how to get them, it’s time to begin your online adventure.
However, here’s one word of advice: domains are high in demand and disappear quickly. If you have a vision for your digital brand, don’t hesitate. Be sure to grab it as soon as possible.
Furthermore, don’t forget that several providers, like Name.com, have constant offerings for free domain names together with other services. So, always check out all your options before committing – and remember to have fun along the way!
Country Code Top-Level Domain List
ccTLD |
Country |
IDN |
DNSSEC |
SLD |
---|---|---|---|---|
.ac | Ascension Island (UK) | |||
.ad | Andorra | |||
.ae | United Arab Emirates | |||
.af | Afghanistan | |||
.ag | Antigua and Barbuda | |||
.ai | Anguilla (UK) | |||
.al | Albania | |||
.am | Armenia | |||
.ao | Angola | n/a | ||
.aq | Antarctica | n/a | ||
.ar | Argentina | ES | ||
.as | American Samoa (U.S.) | |||
.at | Austria | |||
.au | Australia | |||
.aw | Aruba (Kingdom of the Netherlands) | |||
.ax | Åland (Finland) | |||
.az | Azerbaijan | |||
.ba | Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
.bb | Barbados | |||
.bd | Bangladesh | |||
.be | Belgium | Latin | ||
.bf | Burkina Faso | |||
.bg | Bulgaria | |||
.bh | Bahrain | |||
.bi | Burundi | |||
.bj | Benin | |||
.bm | Bermuda (UK) | |||
.bn | Brunei | |||
.bo | Bolivia | |||
.bq | Caribbean Netherlands ( Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
.br | Brazil | |||
.bs | Bahamas | |||
.bt | Bhutan | |||
.bw | Botswana | |||
.by | Belarus | |||
.bz | Belize | |||
.ca | Canada | FR | ||
.cc | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | |||
.cd | Democratic Republic of the Congo | |||
.cf | Central African Republic | |||
.cg | Republic of the Congo | |||
.ch | Switzerland | |||
.ci | Ivory Coast | |||
.ck | Cook Islands | |||
.cl | Chile | |||
.cm | Cameroon | |||
.cn | People's Republic of China | |||
.co | Colombia | |||
.cr | Costa Rica | |||
.cu | Cuba | |||
.cv | Cape Verde | |||
.cw | Curaçao (Kingdom of the Netherlands) | n/a | n/a | |
.cx | Christmas Island | |||
.cy | Cyprus | |||
.cz | Czech Republic | |||
.de | Germany | |||
.dj | Djibouti | |||
.dk | Denmark | |||
.dm | Dominica | |||
.do | Dominican Republic | |||
.dz | Algeria | |||
.ec | Ecuador | |||
.ee | Estonia | |||
.eg | Egypt | |||
.eh | Western Sahara | |||
.er | Eritrea | |||
.es | Spain | |||
.et | Ethiopia | |||
.eu | European Union | |||
.fi | Finland | |||
.fj | Fiji | |||
.fk | Falkland Islands (UK) | |||
.fm | Federated States of Micronesia | |||
.fo | Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark) | |||
.fr | France | |||
.ga | Gabon | |||
.gd | Grenada | |||
.ge | Georgia | |||
.gf | French Guiana (France) | |||
.gg | Guernsey | |||
.gh | Ghana | |||
.gi | Gibraltar (UK) | |||
.gl | Greenland (Kingdom of Denmark) | |||
.gm | The Gambia | |||
.gn | Guinea | |||
.gp | Guadeloupe (France) | |||
.gq | Equatorial Guinea | |||
.gr | Greece | |||
.gs | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK) | |||
.gt | Guatemala | |||
.gu | Guam (U.S.) | |||
.gw | Guinea-Bissau | |||
.gy | Guyana | |||
.hk | Hong Kong | |||
.hm | Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |||
.hn | Honduras | |||
.hr | Croatia | |||
.ht | Haiti | |||
.hu | Hungary | |||
.id | Indonesia | |||
.ie | Ireland | |||
.il | Israel | |||
.im | Isle of Man | |||
.in | India | |||
.io | British Indian Ocean Territory (UK) | |||
.iq | Iraq | Partial | ||
.ir | Iran | |||
.is | Iceland | |||
.it | Italy | |||
.je | Jersey | |||
.jm | Jamaica | |||
.jo | Jordan | |||
.jp | Japan | |||
.ke | Kenya | |||
.kg | Kyrgyzstan | |||
.kh | Cambodia | |||
.ki | Kiribati | |||
.km | Comoros | |||
.kn | Saint Kitts and Nevis | |||
.kp | North Korea | |||
.kr | South Korea | |||
.kw | Kuwait | n/a | ||
.ky | Cayman Islands (UK) | |||
.kz | Kazakhstan | |||
.la | Laos | n/a | ||
.lb | LebaNon | n/a | ||
.lc | Saint Lucia | n/a | ||
.li | Liechtenstein | |||
.lk | Sri Lanka | |||
.lr | Liberia | n/a | Partial | |
.ls | Lesotho | n/a | ||
.lt | Lithuania | |||
.lu | Luxembourg | |||
.lv | Latvia | |||
.ly | Libya | n/a | ||
.ma | Morocco | n/a | Partial | |
.mc | Monaco | n/a | ||
.md | Moldova | n/a | ||
.me | Montenegro | n/a | ||
.mg | Madagascar | n/a | ||
.mh | Marshall Islands | n/a | ||
.mk | North Macedonia | n/a | ||
.ml | Mali | |||
.mm | Myanmar | n/a | ||
.mn | Mongolia | n/a | ||
.mo | Macau | n/a | ||
.mp | Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.) | n/a | ||
.mq | Martinique (France) | n/a | ||
.mr | Mauritania | n/a | ||
.ms | Montserrat (UK) | n/a | ||
.mt | Malta | n/a | ||
.mu | Mauritius | n/a | ||
.mv | Maldives | n/a | ||
.mw | Malawi | n/a | ||
.mx | Mexico | n/a | ||
.my | Malaysia | |||
.mz | Mozambique | n/a | ||
.na | Namibia | n/a | ||
.nc | New Caledonia (France) | n/a | ||
.ne | Niger | n/a | ||
.nf | Norfolk Island | n/a | ||
.ng | Nigeria | n/a | ||
.ni | Nicaragua | n/a | ||
.nl | Netherlands | |||
.no[/sc] | Norway | |||
.np | Nepal | n/a | ||
.nr | Nauru | n/a | ||
.nu | Niue | |||
.nz | New Zealand | Māori | ||
.om | Oman | n/a | ||
.pa | Panama | n/a | ||
.pe | Peru | |||
.pf | French Polynesia (France) | n/a | ||
.pg | Papua New Guinea | n/a | ||
.ph | Philippines | n/a | ||
.pk | Pakistan | n/a | ||
.pl | Poland | |||
.pm | Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (France) | n/a | ||
.pn | Pitcairn Islands (UK) | n/a | ||
.pr | Puerto Rico (U.S.) | n/a | ||
.ps | Palestine[53] | n/a | ||
.pt | Portugal | PT | ||
.pw | Palau | |||
.py | Paraguay | n/a | ||
.qa | Qatar | n/a | ||
.re | Réunion (France) | |||
.ro | Romania | |||
.rs | Serbia | |||
.ru | Russia | |||
.rw | Rwanda | n/a | ||
.sa | Saudi Arabia | AR | ||
.sb | Solomon Islands | n/a | ||
.sc | Seychelles | n/a | ||
.sd | Sudan | n/a | ||
.se | Sweden | |||
.sg | Singapore | n/a | ||
.sh | Saint HelenaTristan da Cunha Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK) | |||
.si | Slovenia | |||
.sk | Slovakia | n/a | ||
.sl | Sierra Leone | n/a | ||
.sm | San MariNo | n/a | ||
.sn | Senegal | n/a | ||
.so | Somalia | |||
.sr | Suriname | n/a | ||
.ss | South Sudan | n/a | n/a | |
.st | São Tomé and Príncipe | |||
.su | Soviet Union | |||
.sv | El Salvador | n/a | ||
.sx | Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands) | n/a | ||
.sy | Syria | n/a | ||
.sz | Eswatini | n/a | ||
.tc | Turks and Caicos Islands (UK) | n/a | ||
.td | Chad | n/a | ||
.tf | French Southern and Antarctic Lands | |||
.tg | Togo | n/a | ||
.th | Thailand | |||
.tj | Tajikistan | n/a | ||
.tk | Tokelau | |||
.tl | East Timor | n/a | ||
.tm | Turkmenistan | |||
.tn | Tunisia | |||
.to | Tonga | |||
.tr | Turkey | |||
.tt | Trinidad and Tobago | n/a | ||
.tv | Tuvalu | n/a | ||
.tw | Taiwan | |||
.tz | Tanzania | n/a | ||
.ua | Ukraine | n/a | ||
.ug | Uganda | n/a | ||
.uk | UK | n/a | ||
.us | U.S. of America | n/a | ||
.uy | Uruguay | n/a | ||
.uz | Uzbekistan | n/a | ||
.va | Vatican City | n/a | ||
.vc | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | n/a | Partial | |
.ve | Venezuela | n/a | ||
.vg | British Virgin Islands (UK) | n/a | ||
.vi | U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S.) | n/a | ||
.vn | Vietnam | |||
.vu | Vanuatu | n/a | ||
.wf | Wallis and Futuna | |||
.ws | Samoa | |||
.ye | Yemen | n/a | ||
.yt | Mayotte | |||
.za | South Africa | n/a | ||
.zm | Zambia | n/a | ||
.zw | Zimbabwe | n/a |