Why can a country code and domain extension differ?
Extensions often follow ISO 3166-1 country codes, but there are exceptions. The United Kingdom’s ISO-2 code is GB, while .uk is the extension in use.
DOMAIN EXTENSIONS
Country code top-level domains
A domain name ends with a top-level domain, such as .fi or .uk. Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are associated with a country or territory. Browse them by name, ISO-2 code or suffix.
Search country-code domains
251 results
Registration terms vary by extension. The status notes describe specific exceptions, not every eligibility requirement.
Popular generic top-level domains (gTLDs)
Not all domain extensions are linked to a country or territory. Explore well-known generic extensions and their common uses.
.comBusinesses and general use.netOriginally for network services; now in general use.orgOrganizations and general use.infoInformational content.appApplications.devSoftware development.shopOnline shops.storeStores and products.blogBlogs.techTechnology.onlineGeneral use.xyzGeneral use
A sample selection. These are common associations, not necessarily registration restrictions.
Browsers require HTTPS for .app and .dev websites. Google Registry: .app Google Registry: .dev
A guide to country-code domains
How should I choose a domain extension?
Consider where your audience is and what impression you want the name to make. Check registration, renewal and transfer terms, as well as any local restrictions. The wording or choice of a suffix alone does not guarantee search visibility.
Parts of a domain name
www.example.fi
www- A subdomain. It is common, but not part of the registered domain.
example- The name label.
.fi- Finland’s country-code top-level domain (ccTLD).
Registered domain: example.fi
Whether a website works with or without the www prefix depends on its configuration.
Types of domain extensions
| Type | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ccTLD | .fi | A country-code extension associated with a country or territory. IDN ccTLDs are a form of ccTLD that use non-Latin characters, such as .рф. |
| gTLD | .com | A generic top-level domain extension not associated with a specific country or territory. |
Well-known extensions and common uses
.ai— Anguilla; also used by artificial intelligence brands..tv— Tuvalu; often associated with television and video..io— The British Indian Ocean Territory; also known among technology companies..co— Colombia; also used in international business names..uk— The United Kingdom, although its ISO-2 code is GB..eu— The European Union’s regional domain extension.
Popular branding does not change a suffix’s geographic origin.
What is a domain hack? Creative domain names
A domain hack is a domain name whose ending completes its name to form a word or phrase. YouTube uses youtu.be: read together, the parts of the domain spell YouTube. Here, hack means a clever wordplay or solution, not a security breach or unauthorized access. A domain hack can use a country-code ending or another kind of ending; the examples on this page focus on ccTLDs. Using .ai for an artificial-intelligence company does not by itself make a domain a domain hack: it may simply draw on a commercial association with the ending. In a domain hack, parts of the name and its ending combine to spell something, as they do in youtu.be. A clever address can be short and memorable, which is why domain hacks have been used for branding and short links. Country-code endings still follow their registries’ rules: some are not open to everyone, and registration and renewal prices can vary.
| Domain name | Country-code ending | Country | Wordplay |
|---|---|---|---|
youtu.be | .be |  Belgium | The .be ending completes YouTube’s name. YouTube still uses it for short video links. |
bit.ly | .ly |  Libya | bit + .ly spells Bitly. Bitly still uses the domain for shortened links. |
redd.it | .it |  Italy | redd + .it spells Reddit. Reddit uses the domain for short share links. |
instagr.am | .am |  Armenia | A historical Instagram domain; do not assume it is the service’s current address. |
del.icio.us | .us |  United States | del + icio + .us spells “delicious.” del is a subdomain; the bookmarking service is now a read-only archive. |
A domain hack uses the ending as part of a word. An .ai address for an AI company, for example, does not qualify by itself.
Sources
Country-code domain FAQs
Does a country-code extension affect search visibility?
Google uses most ccTLDs as a signal of the intended country, but this does not guarantee higher rankings. Google treats some extensions, including .ai, .co, .io and .tv, as generic.
Can someone in Finland register a foreign country-code domain?
It depends on the registry’s rules. Some extensions are open to registrants worldwide; others require a local address, business activity or another qualification. Check the current terms before ordering.
Can a country have more than one country-code extension?
Yes. Russia has the Latin-script .ru and the Cyrillic IDN extension .рф. This directory shows two-letter ASCII suffixes; the Cyrillic .рф is not included in the table.
Why might the renewal price differ from the first-year price?
A registrar’s promotion may apply only to the first registration term. Renewal, transfer and premium-name prices can differ. Compare the full price and terms, not just the introductory offer.
How can I check whether a domain name is available?
Check the name with a registrar’s search tool. This directory lists country-code extensions, not the availability of individual domain names. Registration also depends on the extension’s rules.
Sources and data review date
Reviewed 31 October 2026