A top-level domain (TLD) is the part of a website’s address that comes after the domain name and the dot, like .com in wpbeginner.com or .org in wikipedia.org. It’s also called the domain name extension.
Meanwhile, the website address that comes before the TLD is called the second-level domain (SLD). So, in example.com, the SLD is ‘example.’
One popular type of TLD is a generic top-level domain (gTLD). gTLDs are domain extensions that have an intended purpose based on their names.
For example, .com stands for ‘commercial,’ but many non-commercial sites use it because most internet users are familiar with it. .org, .gov, and .edu are also examples of gTLDs.
There are also country-code top-level domains (CCTLDs), which can identify websites that operate in or target users in a specific location.
For instance, if a domain name ends with .co.uk, that means the business operates in the United Kingdom.