What is the .info TLD (Top Level Domain)?

Let's start by looking at how a 'web address' is constructed. Generally speaking, a web address is divided into several parts.

Let's look at the #1 domain in the world - www.google.com.

www - In the web address, the 'www' is the server name (it stands for World Wide Web) and since most web searchers are looking for websites, the 'www' is assumed. Open a new browser window and type in google.com - you will get to the google website just fine without typing in the 'www'. There are other server names used - for example ftp - which stands for file transfer protocol. If you type this instead of a 'www', the servers assume you want to access a server to transfer, not view , files. Typing this will often take you to a login screen since most web servers are secure.

google - The second part of the address is the domain name, in this case 'google'. This name, in combination with the TLD of .com is where the uniqueness (and value) of a domain name comes from. Servers on the internet translate your words into language the internet understands and send you to google, and not yahoo.

.com - The third part of the address is the Top Level Domain, in this case .com. In theory, typing google.com and google.info would take you to different locations on the web. In many cases this is true, but because a company spends a lot of money on branding their trademarked intellectual property, they will ofter purchase other domains with other TLDs to protect their investment.  Go ahead, type 'google.info' in a new window - it takes you to google.com. This is because a domain can be forwarded or redirected to another name. Try using many different Top Level Domains with the Name google and see where you end up. By the way, if it were possible for you to register the domain name of 'google.info' you would probably hear from some lawyers.

How did .info come to be?

The .info domain was added to the internet after the .com domain became over-crowded. It was one of several new Top Level Domains added for use.

Did adding the .info domain help reduce the over-crowding in .com TLDs?

Yes, the .info domain is very successful. In March of 2009 there are over 5.1 active .info domains in use. It is still possible to register short .info domains with great key words. The same domain names with .com TLD's were snatched up years ago.

Who can own and use a .info Top Level Domain?

The .info domain TLD is an generic unrestricted domain - it was intended to be owned and operated by anyone, for any purpose. In this regard it is similar to the other unrestricted .com, .net or .org domains. Other TLDs, like .edu and .coop, have some restrictions on who can own them. 

How popular is the .info domain?

Want to see how popular .info is? Visit www.popularity.info and do a 'keyword' search on ".info" to see the .info web sites listed in the top 1 million sites on Alexa. Warning - some of the sites contain adult material, and some may be harmful, so don't just visit them without some thought.