A Top-Level Domain (TLD) is the last part of a domain name, appearing after the final dot, and it serves as the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS). For example, in example.com, .com is the TLD. TLDs are divided into several categories: generic TLDs (gTLDs) like .com, .org, and .net, which are not tied to any specific country; country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) like .us, .uk, or .jp, which indicate a specific country or territory; and sponsored or specialized TLDs like .edu, .gov, or .museum, which are restricted to certain organizations or purposes. TLDs are managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) under the oversight of ICANN, which ensures that each TLD is unique and globally recognized. New gTLDs have been introduced over the years to increase naming options, such as .app, .tech, .blog, and hundreds more, allowing more creativity and specificity in domain names. The choice of a TLD can affect perception, trust, and even search engine ranking; for instance, .edu signals credibility for educational institutions, while .org is often associated with nonprofit organizations. TLDs also play a technical role in the DNS hierarchy by helping resolvers route queries from users to the appropriate servers. In summary, TLDs are a fundamental part of how the internet is structured, providing both organizational clarity and signaling the purpose or location of a website.