gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain)
A gTLD (generic top-level domain) is a top-level domain that is not tied to a country code — .com, .net, .org, plus the hundreds of new gTLDs like .app, .dev, and .xyz. All gTLD registries and registrars operate under contract with ICANN, which gives gTLDs something ccTLDs lack: a common rulebook for transfers, expiry, and registration data.
The shared gTLD rulebook
- •A standard lifecycle: registrar grace period after expiry (up to about 45 days, registrar-dependent), a roughly 30-day redemption period, then 5 days of pendingDelete.
- •A common transfer policy: auth codes, registrar approval flows, and the 60-day lock after registration or transfer.
- •RDAP registration data service, required across gTLD registries and registrars.
Why investors care
Predictability. A gTLD domain behaves the same way whether it is at GoDaddy or Porkbun, in .com or .xyz: same lifecycle stages, same transfer mechanics, same data protocols. That makes gTLD portfolios easier to manage at scale than mixed ccTLD holdings, where every registry is its own special case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is .com a gTLD?
Yes — .com is the original and largest gTLD, operated by Verisign under agreement with ICANN. .net and .org are also legacy gTLDs.
What is the difference between a gTLD and a ccTLD?
gTLDs are generic strings governed by ICANN contracts with uniform lifecycle and transfer rules. ccTLDs are two-letter country codes governed by national registries, each with its own policies.