.gov

.gov
IntroducedJanuary 1, 1985 (1985-01-01)
TLD typeSponsored top-level domain
StatusActive
RegistryCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
SponsorCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Intended useGovernmental entities
Actual useOnly the United States government; formerly only federal government but later expanded to include state and local government
Registration restrictionsMust meet eligibility requirements and submit authorization letter
StructureRegistrations at second level permitted
DocumentsRFC 920; RFC 1591; RFC 2146
Dispute policiesNone
DNSSECyes
Registry websiteget.gov
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The domain name gov is a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) in the Domain Name System of the Internet. The name is derived from the word government, indicating its restricted use by government entities. The TLD is administered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA),[1] a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

.gov is one of the original six top-level domains, defined in RFC 920.[2] Though "originally intended for any kind of government office or agency",[3] only U.S.-based government entities may register .gov domain names, a result of the Internet originating as a U.S. government-sponsored research network.

Other countries typically delegate a second-level domain for government operations on their country-code top-level domain (ccTLD); for example, .gov.uk is the domain for the Government of the United Kingdom, and .gc.ca is the domain for the Government of Canada. The United States is the only country that has a government-specific top-level domain in addition to its ccTLD (.us), and this distinction is due to the Internet itself originating as a project of the government of the United States.

.gov domains are registered at get.gov.

  1. ^ "Delegation Record for .gov". Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Postel, John; Reynolds, Joyce (October 1984). "RFC 920 - Domain Requirements". Ietf Datatracker. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Postel, John (March 1994). "RFC 1591 - Domain Name System Structure and Delegation". Ietf Datatracker. Retrieved June 20, 2021.