Published: 12.05.2026
The .com extension is the most recognised address ending on the internet. Many visitors type it automatically, even when a site uses a different zone. Here is where it came from and what it means for your project.
Check if a .com domain is available .com Check
A short history
.com was defined in 1985 as one of the first top-level domains, together with .edu, .gov, .mil and .org. The name comes from the word "commercial": it was meant for businesses. The first registered .com name, symbolics.com, appeared on 15 March 1985. For years registrations were tiny, but the commercial web of the 1990s turned .com into the symbol of the internet.
Who runs it
The .com registry is operated by Verisign, which took over the technical administration from Network Solutions around 2000. Registrars such as us sell the names to customers, while the registry keeps the central database and the root servers of the zone. The zone has supported DNSSEC since 2011.
Rules in practice
- Open to everyone in the world: no local presence or paperwork is required.
- A name can be up to 63 characters long and may use letters, digits and hyphens. Internationalised names are supported.
- Registration periods run from one to ten years, and a domain is renewed for the same period.
- Well over 150 million names are registered, so short and dictionary words are taken. Look for two-word combinations or a brand-style name.
Why .com is still a safe choice
- Trust and recall: people assume a business is at .com.
- Fewer typing mistakes: visitors add .com out of habit.
- Resale value: good .com names keep their price better than most other extensions.
- Support everywhere: every mail service, platform and tool works with it without surprises.
When another zone is better
If your audience is in one country, a national extension builds local trust. If .com is taken, a descriptive new extension or a variation of the name may be a smarter choice than an awkward spelling. Many companies register .com as the main address and a national zone as a redirect.
Frequently asked questions
Is .com better for SEO? No. Search engines treat all generic extensions equally; quality and content matter.
Can I register .com for several years? Yes, up to ten years at once, and auto-renewal protects the name from expiry.
Ready to check your name? Search for it in the client area.
