Domain Extensions and Your Project
Published: 2020-03-22 21:24:01

**NOTICE: I tried to limit how many links I made reference to, there should only be one but if I mention multiple please do not click them or go to them, as I have no control over them. You have been warned**

Let's make it clear, I am a domain extension nut. A weird hobby of mine is domain extensions and also explaining how I feel about them. This article is supposed to help you which TLD's to pick. TLD's being Top-Level-Domains or domain extensions. Basically the .com .to .org .net .io and about a trillion others to pick from. I want to go through four main sections. The first section being the domain extensions to avoid at all costs. The second being about okay-enough domain extensions. Thirdly about the extensions you need to look into. Finally about the extensions that are clever for some projects. Let's just jump into it.

# AVOID THESE EXTENSIONS!!
Non-applicable trade domains (.accountant, .shiksha, .builders, etc.). Notice the word "Non-applicable." In short, if your domain isn't a build tool or accounting software, then stay away from these domains. Any kind of skill, trade, etc that doesn't apply would make sense to avoid.

Free domains. These are an ABSOLUTE must to avoid. So you know how domains like .cc usually represent more sketchy sites because they are cheap? These domains usually belong to the sketchiest. I have seen them belong to a plethora of sites like for malware, stolen code running projects, and a plethora of different scams/crams/and whams. One most notable example was a URL shortener that abused TinyURL, with file hosting with Discord CDN with lying about it, a Pastebin service that... I do not know what it used as a "backend". It did free hosting on Glitch, claiming it was self-hosted... and I will make an article about this in the future. Also just away from the side note "free domains" means "Freenom" domains, which Freenom is a TLD seller who gives free domains. They are a tiny bit sketch but not too bad. It is mostly the TLD's themselves. Also, don't worry .js.org people, all is good, you will be mentioned *later.*

# Okay Domains
Generics. Your .com, .co, .org, .net, even stuff like .cc, .to, .me. These TLDs by nature usually mean something too. .net can mean network, .org is general organizations, .co is elegant product, .com is average product, .cc is cheaper product. So on and so forth. These TLDs are also best known as "Not just software" domains.

# Good Domain Extensions
These are some you should focus on. Basically .ai, .dev, .io are the key three here. These are good for any job but they have a clear dev stance to them. .codes, .app, .cloud, .gg so on and so forth. Also, some, while other people might avoid can be good, like how my friend got my favorite domain I ever owned, viruses-to.download. Now yeah, probably don't visit the page, he is using it for file hosting and plans to do virus testing things there, so be warned. Also in the next year or so neither of us might have it anymore.

# Special extensions
These TLDs are the best on the market. Your project will love the use of these. Remember .js.org? Yeah, that's one of these. Yes free, has a clear JavaScript objective. .sh is another good one, idealized as shell-like in Bash. .py is another good one that is wonderful for python developers. .wtf has a lot of potential, but personally I see it as a gross TLD because of one specific website about... not being nice to animals... in a non-violent but graphic way. Moving on. One's that I love the most are .one, .is, and more.

# Bonus: Where to buy them
Now I am not sponsored, if I was I would have something better than a dual-core CPU laptop with four gigs of RAM. Anyways I always recommend Hover, 101Domain, and Namecheap as mains, name.com as a backup, and in general stay away from GoDaddy. Some other possible good ones out there but these are what I use. Have fun and be safe online.

# Interesting happenstance
Okay so while trying to find TLD screenshots and also trying to un-forget some TLDs and I typed in a random string that was me keyboard spamming. I found one of them in the form of the .cm TLD was taken. Weird.