Why is it that .com is such a widely used suffix to websites, what does it stand for and why does it matter what the suffixes are when the DNS server converts the websites to their respective IP addresses anyways?
In: Technology
The suffix “.com” originally meant that it was a company’s website.
Suffix “.gov” is a government website, “.uk” is the United Kingdom, and so on.
Sometimes there will be two sites with the same name, but different suffixes.
Here is a list https://pc.net/resources/internet/domain_suffixes
In the early days of the internet there was a lot going on. When what we now call “the web” (meaning websites) was being spun up it was supposed to be more organized and you could tell by what suffix it had.
Examples:
.org – was for orgs and non-profits
.edu – education
.com – commercial sites
.net – networks/internet infrastructure companies and sites.
and so on
However, pretty much the one that caught on during the “.com” boom of the 90s was… well, .com. So .com instead just because the universal standard and no longer had any deeper meaning.
> DNS server converts the websites to their respective IP addresses anyways?
A website its entire address, just like your home address (in the Us) needs a house number, street, city, state, and zip code
Take this: 3600 Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Now what if we changed just the state:
3600 Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, **FL** 89109
Now thats an entirely different place right? Maybe it doesn’t even exist.
A website that is www.reddit.com and one that is www.reddit.edu are to wholly different sites. The whole address matters
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