Domain extensions can guide you in determining the credibility of online information. Use the tool above to search for sites
based on domain extension. Consider the clues and extensions presented below. |
Open registration domains... |
.com
(commercial)
.net
(network)
.biz
(business)
.info (information) |
Open for general registration, these domain extensions are vailable to everyone.
What do they want to sell you? Does this effect the message? |
Organizational Sites |
.org
(organization) |
Available to anyone, but often a non-profit organization.
What is the mission/vested interest of the organization? Does this effect the message? |
Education Sites |
| .edu (education) |
Restricted to post-secondary institutions. Elementary and secondary sites are often listed as governmental affiliates.
Beware of nested accounts. Individual instructors or student may have personal agendas. |
Government Sites |
.gov
(US government)
.us
(state or local gov) |
Public schools often use .us. Other Countries: Many countries have domain names restricted for use by companies and other entities practicing within that country. (.de Germany)There are a few countries that offer unrestricted access.
Our country wouldn’t lie…right? Consider propaganda and party politics. What is their agenda? Does it effect the message? |
Other restricted domains... |
.aero - for the air transport industry
.coop - for cooperatives
.geo - for geographically related sites
.int - for international organizations established by treaty
.jobs - for employment-related sites
.mil - for the US military
.mobi - for sites catering to mobile devices
.museum - for museums
.name - for families and individuals (monitord, not strictly enforced)
.post - for postal services
.pro - for doctors, attorneys, and public accountants
.tel - for services involving connections between the telephone network and the Internet
.travel - for travel agents, airlines, hoteliers, tourism bureaus, etc.
LlhCowell, 2008 |