Have you ever found that the domain of some websites are .com while some are .net? A small difference between the letters but represents different meanings and histories. Do you want to know why Microsoft, Blizzard, and many public welfare organizations use or have used the .net domain?

If you want to create a website, an essential step is to choose the correct and appropriate domain name. The main parts of a domain name include a website name and an extension. Nowadays, there are many extensions available for individuals and businesses to choose from, such as .net domain and .com domain, which are two of the most popular and well-known extensions. In this article, we will introduce .net domain in detail, including what it means, what it is used for, its pros and cons and the differences between .net and .com domains.

What does .net mean within a web address?

Whether you are creating a website or developing an app, domain names play a very important role. A domain name is the address used to identify and locate a website or application. When the user enters the domain name on their devices, the DNS system will resolve the domain name and obtain the corresponding IP address. Then the device will establish a relationship with the server through the IP address and load the content of the website or APP.

A domain name consists of multiple parts, including top-level domain names (TLD), second-level domain names (SLD) and sub-domain names. The entire domain name is read from right to left. Take Google as an example, "com" is the top-level domain name, "google" is the second-level APP domain name, and "www" is the subdomain name. Some TLDs also have country code TLDs (ccTLDs), such as ".us" for the United States or ".cn" for China.

The .Net is a top-level domain, and other top-level domains include .com, .org, etc. The name ".Net" comes from the word "Internet", because the .net domain was first used by some network technology organizations or Internet service providers, but in fact, this popular domain extension can be widely used for many different businesses and industries

Users can enter the domain name in the search box to directly enter the website and browse website information. Moreover, the structure of the domain name is very simple and clear. Users can get some basic information through the domain name and memorize it easily, which is more user-friendly.

When choosing a domain name, developers need to consider many factors, including whether the domain name is simple and easy to understand, whether it is related to the website or brand, and whether it is easy to remember and the like. A suitable domain name can help improve user experience.

What is the differences between .net and .com?

Actually, there are a lot of obvious difference and features between the .net domain and .com domain. Here I will discuss their distinctions from 4 aspects. They are a scope of application, popularity and registration and restrictions.

Scope of application

• The .net domain is used mainly by Internet service providers at the beginning and is generally regarded as an abbreviation of "network". Nowadays, it can be used in all industries without any restriction. Of course, the .net domain name is more suitable for Internet Service Providers, network repairers and other organizations that provide networking services.
• The .com domain, as the most popular and recognized domain name in the world, is mainly used for commercial and for-profit organizations. The abbreviation stands for "commercial". It is more suitable for a wide range of business organizations whose final goal is to make money. Regardless of the size of the enterprise, business organizations are more willing to choose the .com domain to establish their business.

Popularity

• The .net domain was opened for registration in 1985, and is one of the early international top-level domains, second only to the .com domain in terms of popularity.
• The. com domain name was also opened for registration in the same year and is the most popular and widely-used domain extension in the world.

Registration restrictions

• The .net domain is open to all. Any organization or individual can register a .net domain name.
• The .com domain is mainly used by commercial organizations. Of course, individuals can also register the .com domain as the restrictions are not very strict. However, due to the commercial nature of the .com domain, there are some regulations for the registration and management of .com domain names. In short, the .net domain is less restrictive than the .com domain.

What are the pros and cons of choosing a .net domain?

Pros

Credible and professional

The .net domain means that the website has better technical support and represents the professionalism of the brand. Choosing the .net domain facilitates visitors browsing your website so that they will quickly build trust in your website. It also helps build brand image and credibility globally.

Versatile and flexible in use

The .net domain can be used for a variety of purposes. If you are an artist, you can chose the .net domain to set up your own portfolio blog. If you're running an e-commerce company, you can use the .net domain to set up your own online commerce site and establish a branded web connection with consumers. This flexibility allows you to choose the most suitable domain name for your personal needs and helps you to show your features and brand value. It does not have many restrictions.

Easily-available and easy to registrate

Compared to the .com domain, the registration for a net domain is much simpler and a .net domain is easier to obtain. So brands can easily find their ideal .net domain name. Moreover, if the desired .com domain name is registered, the .net one is also a nice option.

Recognized by the international community

The .net domain enjoys a good reputation and recognition because it has a long history and has also been widely recognized internationally. Therefore if you choose the .net domain, especially when your business is related to networking services or technology, you don't need to spend too much effort to build up the audience's trust in your business because the .net domain is synonymous with credibility and security. Meanwhile, you can also increase your brand's visibility globally.

Cons

Less popular than the .com domain

The .net domain is slightly less recognized and less well-known than the .com domain. In the perception of some users, the .net domain names are not as specialized as the .com domain. These users prefer the .com domain because they believe the .com domain will bring about a higher degree of commerciality and authority.

Competative in registration

Although the .net domain is easier to obtain as compared to the .com domain, registration for some popular and welcomed .net domain names is still very competitive.

When to use the .net domain?

In fact, most of the time many companies and organizations prefer to choose the .com domain as it is more popular and highly recognized. However, the .net domain will be more suitable in some specific industries. As we have mentioned above, the .net domain is originally designed for and used by some companies which provides technology and Internet or online services. Here are some scenarios when the .net domain will be your primary choice.

When your main business is related to network technology

The .net domain is an abbreviation of "network". The first domain in the world was ".net" while the .com came after the .net domain. If you want to create a website and your main business is related to internet services, web technology, network infrastructure, etc., then net domain is a very good choice because it has always been associated with technology and Internet services. The use of a .net domain highlights the brand as well as the professionalism and credibility of the company. Microsoft is one of the earliest users of the .net domain. Although its official website uses the .com domain, it still uses the .net domain extensively in its products and technologies, such as ASP for .NET framework, etc.

When your favorite .com domain has been registered

The .com domain is the most recognized and well-known in the world, and more than half of the websites in the world have used the .com domain. That's why the .com domain is the first choice for many companies, especially those that are profit-oriented. However, just because the .com domain is so highly sought after, the competition for .com domain name registrations is so fierce that a large number of high-quality .com domain names have already been pre-registered. So, if your favorite .com is also taken, then the .net domain is also a good choice.

When your company is a technology startup

If your company is a technology startup, especially if it's technology-related, a .net domain name must be a good choice because it conveys a sense of technological innovation and professionalism. Battle, the online gaming platform of Blizzard Entertainment, was founded in 1996 and was one of the early well-known domain on the Internet, supporting multiplayer gaming, social interactions, game management, etc. Battle chose the .net domain because its business was closely related to web services.  Also, the .net domain was recognized as the first choice for web services platforms in the 1990s.

When you want to create a non-profit organization or community about web technology or web services

When you want to create a community or forum that is highly related to web services and technologies, the net domain can help you demonstrate the professionalism and credibility of your website. For example, SourceForge also uses a net domain. It is an early platform for open-source software development that provides project hosting, version control, and collaboration tools to help develop and distribute many open-source projects. Another example is CSDN (Chinese Software Developer Network), which also registered a net domain name. Founded in 1999, it is one of the largest developer-oriented communities in China, focusing on sharing and exchanging software development technologies.

When you want to create a personal brand or blog

If you are a technology blogger or web expert, a .net domain name can reflect your expertise in the field. For example, Joel Spolsky is the co-founder of Stack Overflow and a well-known tech blogger. His blog “Joel on Software” has also registered a .net domain, and most of his blog topics are related to software development, management, and entrepreneurship.

Steps for registering a .net domain?

The organization responsible for the administration of domain names is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It is a non-profit international organization, mainly responsible for approving and accrediting agencies that issue and manage domain names.

Users do not interface directly with ICANN. Instead, users need to find an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar and provide some material or information for the application. The detailed steps are as follows.

• First, choose a reliable registrar
• Then, check the availability of the domain name you like, as well as its price years of use, etc.
• Provide the registrar with the relevant information, including contact information and address as required.
• Select the registration period, confirm the order, and complete the payment.
• After successful payment, the domain name is ready for use. You can see information on your domain name on the registrar's website, including its status, expiration time, DNS settings, and so on.

Conclusion

It requires consideration of many factors to pick up the right domain name, including the company's main business, its features, the brand image, and the target market. In some industries, the .net domain is more likely to be favored. For instance, if your company is providing network security solutions or is technology-related, then the .net domain is undoubtedly your first choice. The choice of a domain name depends on your specific needs and marketing strategy, and so on.

FAQs

Are There Any Restrictions on .net Domains?

There are no restrictions on the registration of net domain names. Individuals or organizations from any region can register for the .net domain. That's also why the domain is so widely used.

Is .com Better Than .net for SEO?

Some people may feel that the .com domain is more advantageous and effective in providing their rankings in search engines, but in reality, there is no difference between the .net domain and the .com domain in terms of SEO results. The effectiveness of SEO still depends more on the SEO strategies you adopt. The only thing that makes a difference is Geo-specific domain extensions such as .uk or .us because the audience likes to click on sites that have the domain name of the country they are in.

Alternatives to .NET Domains

In addition to the .net domain name, there are many other domain names available for different brands and users to choose from in order to meet their specific individual needs and purposes.

The .com domain is one of the most common and recognizable domain name extensions. It is often the preferred choice for some commercial websites, personal blogs, e-commerce platforms and so on.

The .org domain stands for "organization" and is usually used for non-profit organizations, open-source projects, industry associations, etc.  Although it was originally designed for non-profit organizations, but is now also widely used for various types of websites.

The .info domain stands for "information", emphasizing informativeness. It is suitable for some information portals and news sites, etc., which makes it easy for site owners to provide information, knowledge, or news.

The .biz domain is an abbreviation of "business". Although it is not as well-known as the .com  and the .net domains, for those who want to emphasize the importance of business identity, it will be a good choice.