What is a second level domain?

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A second-level domain (SLD) is the part of a domain name located directly to the left of the top-level domain (TLD). It's the unique identifier of a website. Think of it as the specific name you choose for your website.

In the domain name www.example.com:

  • .com is the top-level domain (TLD).
  • example is the second-level domain (SLD).
  • www is a subdomain (sometimes called a third-level domain).

The SLD is what people typically remember and associate with a website. It often represents the brand name, organization, or the general topic of the website. When you register a domain name, you are essentially registering a unique second-level domain under a specific top-level domain.

Here are some more examples:

  • In google.fr, "google" is the SLD, and ".fr" is the ccTLD.
  • In wikipedia.org, "wikipedia" is the SLD, and ".org" is a generic TLD.
  • In bbc.co.uk, "co" is a second-level domain within the ".uk" ccTLD, and "bbc" is a third-level domain.

Choosing a good second-level domain is important for branding, memorability, and how easily people can find your website online.