Domain Extension Types: Meaning, List and Examples

What is a domain extension?

A domain extension is the ending after the last dot in a web address. In sastidomains.com, the extension is .com. In example.com.pk, the part after the final dot is .pk.

It is also called a TLD, short for top-level domain. In Roman Urdu people search "domain extension kya hai". The short answer: it is the ending that shows what kind of address you are looking at, and who runs that part of the naming system.

Every extension is listed in the internet's root zone, which IANA keeps a record of. Each one has an operator called a registry. The registry sets the rules for names under it. Registrars and resellers then sell those names to the public.

For the basics of the name itself, read our guide “What is a domain name?” or our guide “Domain kya hai? Asaan Roman Urdu mein”.

The main types of domain extensions

IANA's root zone database sorts extensions into four types: generic, country code, special use and test. You can only buy names under the first two. Special-use endings such as .arpa are for technical work, and test endings are never sold.

People also use a few informal labels. These are the groups you will hear about most.

• Generic (gTLD): extensions such as .com, .net and .org that anyone can usually register.
• Country-code (ccTLD): two-letter extensions tied to a country or territory, such as .pk for Pakistan.
• Sponsored: extensions run for a set community, with rules on who may register.
• New gTLDs: the newer generic endings such as .shop, .online, .xyz and .site.
• Second-level zones: endings placed under a country code, such as .com.pk.

Generic extensions: .com, .net, .org

These three are the best-known generic extensions. .com is the ending most people recognise, so it is a natural first choice for a business that wants to be found outside Pakistan too.

Our pages on the .com page, the .net page and the .org page explain each one. For a side-by-side view, see our guide “.com vs .net vs .org: which should you pick?”.

The registry sets the wholesale cost of generic names. For example, Verisign's wholesale fee for .com is USD 10.26 and rises to USD 10.97 on 1 November 2026. That is the registry fee only, not what a seller charges you. Our own rates are on the price list, and many are quoted on WhatsApp.

Generic names get taken fast. If your first idea is gone, try the name idea tool or read our guide “How to buy a domain that is already taken”.

Country-code extensions and Pakistan's zones

A country-code extension points to a country. For Pakistan that is .pk, and PKNIC is the registry. We are not PKNIC. We register names through PKNIC or an accredited registrar, in your own name.

PKNIC's website lists these zones: .pk, .com.pk, .net.pk, .org.pk, .web.pk, .fam.pk, .edu.pk, and government-only zones such as .gov.pk. The education and government zones have their own requirements pages, so read those first.

Names directly under .pk need at least four characters. PKNIC fixes the registrant name at registration, so give the right owner name from day one.

Read more at the .pk page, the .com.pk page, the .net.pk page, the .org.pk page, our guide “How to get a .edu.pk domain for a school or college” and our guide “Who can register a .gov.pk domain?”. The quick comparison is our guide “.pk vs .com.pk vs .com: which domain should a Pakistani business pick?”.

How many domain extensions exist?

The number changes over time. IANA publishes a plain list of every extension in the root zone. Its version dated 21 October 2026 holds 1,437 entries. That count includes internationalised extensions, which appear in a coded form starting with XN--.

So a full domain extensions list is long. You do not need to know them all. A handful cover most business needs in Pakistan: .pk, .com.pk, .com, .net, .org, and a few newer ones that suit a niche.

To browse the ones we handle, open the list of extensions. For the newer groups, see our guide “Do new extensions like .shop and .online work?”. Examples include the .online page, the .shop page, the .store page, the .xyz page, the .site page, the .tech page, the .app page, the .io page and the .ai page.

How to choose the right extension

Start with your customers. If they are mainly in Pakistan, a .pk or .com.pk name signals a local business. If you sell abroad, .com is usually easier for strangers to remember.

Then think about fit. A shop may suit .shop or .store. A tech startup may like .io or .ai. A non-profit often picks .org. See our guide “.io, .ai or .com for a Pakistani startup?” and our guide “Choosing a domain for an online store in Pakistan” for examples.

Cost matters too. PKNIC charges Rs 2,100 per year for Pakistan-based registrants from 1 August 2026, up from Rs 1,800. It bills two years at a time, and you can pay for up to ten years. Registrants outside Pakistan pay USD 15.99 per year. Other extensions have their own renewal costs, so check our guide “What a domain costs to renew, and why year two can cost more” before you commit.

Whatever you pick, check the exact name on our guide “How to check if a domain name is available (and why "available" is not a promise)”.

Getting a domain with SastiDomains

We are a small Pakistani company that works online. We have no office. We do two things.

First, a marketplace at the marketplace where owners sell existing domains, with payment held in escrow. See how that works at our guide “How domain escrow works”. Second, a registration service at the order form that checks availability live and registers new names in your own name.

You pay in rupees by bank transfer, Raast, JazzCash or Easypaisa. Sales happen on WhatsApp. We aim to file the same working day your payment arrives. Unpaid orders cancel after 48 hours. If a name is taken before we file, you get a full refund.

We do not sell hosting, website design, SSL, PKNIC prepaid cards or Google Workspace. See our guide “Domain vs hosting: what is the difference?” for how a domain differs from hosting.

Common questions