Which characters can be used in a .net domain name?
.net domain names are limited to 67 characters. They can contain the letters a to z, the numbers 0 to 9 and a variety of accented characters.
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.net
What are .net domains
.net is a top-level domain (TLD) that stands for “network”. An estimated 13.5 million of these extensions are registered in over 200 countries worldwide in over 400 languages making .net the second most popular domain. It’s particularly common in Japan, where it outnumbers .com two to one.
Where did the .net domain come from?
The first .net TLD was introduced on 1 January 1985 and it’s one of the six generic TLDs operated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority under the internet Domain Name System. (The other generic TLDs are .com, .edu, .gov, .mil and .org.)
The first domain ever created was actually a .net (Nordu.net – the Nordic Gateway for Research and Education, which still exists today), although it was a .com that eventually won the race to obtain the first ever registration.
.net is now owned by Verisign, a global provider of domain name registry services. Verisign has been managing the .net infrastructure for over 24 years and uses partners called registrars to carry out the registration process.
What is the purpose of the .net domain name?
The .net domain was originally designed for websites involved in networking technologies, such as internet service providers, database companies and hosting entities. These days, it tends to be used more widely by businesses in various sectors including advertisers and creative networks. Some of the most visited .net websites are household names like Slideshare.net, Researchgate.net and Docusign.net.
Some people with a .com website also buy the corresponding .net website name. Why? To try to stop others from using the .net version for fraudulent or other malicious purposes. The domain owner then simply sets up the .net domain to redirect to the .com website they want people to visit.
It’s worth knowing that a .net domain doesn’t affect SEO. Search engines treat it the same as, for example, a .com. This is because they don’t use extensions as ranking factors that affect where a website appears in search results.
The .net domain can also be highly sought after: the most expensive .net in history was Poker.net, which sold for $750,000 in March 2021.
Anyone can register a .net domain name, and they do. Some of the most popular keywords used with this TLD are “sells”, “Christmas”, and “George”!
.net domain features:
DNS Management
DNSSEC
Whois Privacy Protection
Domain Forwarding
IDN
Domain Lock
Premium Domains
Alternative Domain TLDS
If you are interested in the .shop
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If the name in one extension is already taken, it is a great
idea to check other domain types
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Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about .NET domains
Are .net domains good for business websites?
Yes, .net is a popular and well-respected TLD with enduring appeal and a sense of community. It’s the go-to alternative if your chosen website address isn’t available with a .com extension.
