New gTLDs are the hundreds of generic domain endings — such as .app, .shop, .blog and .xyz — that were added to the internet through ICANN’s New gTLD Program, which opened for applications in 2012. They expanded the generic namespace from roughly 22 extensions to many hundreds.
For most of the web’s history, your choice of domain ending was short. A business reached for .com, a non-profit took .org, a network provider used .net, and a country site used its national code. That tidy menu of around 22 generic top-level domains stayed roughly fixed for years. The New gTLD Program changed that completely, and the result is the crowded, colourful menu of endings you see at any registrar today.
If you have ever wondered why you can now register a name ending in .pizza, .dev, .london or even .google, this guide explains where all those extensions came from and how to think about them. For the underlying definition of the term, see our guide on what a gTLD is.
What exactly is a “new” gTLD?
A gTLD is a generic top-level domain — an extension that is not tied to a single country (those are ccTLDs). The word “new” is doing real work here. It separates two groups:
- Legacy gTLDs — the original handful that existed before 2012, including
.com,.org,.net,.infoand.biz. - New gTLDs — everything delegated through ICANN’s program from roughly 2013 onward, from
.onlineand.storeto highly specific endings like.plumbing.
Technically a new gTLD behaves exactly like an old one. It sits at the same level of the DNS hierarchy, it is delegated in the same root zone, and a domain registered under it works in every browser. The difference is purely one of history and, often, of how familiar the ending feels to ordinary visitors.
A generic top-level domain delegated through ICANN’s New gTLD Program (applications opened 2012), as distinct from the legacy generic extensions such as .com that pre-dated it.
Why did hundreds of new gTLDs appear at once?
The expansion was a deliberate policy decision, not an accident. ICANN, the non-profit that coordinates the domain system, spent years developing a process to let organisations apply to run their own top-level domains. The reasoning was straightforward: a single dominant extension created scarcity, good .com names were increasingly taken, and a wider namespace could allow more competition, more choice, and endings that actually describe what a site is about.
The first application window opened in January 2012. Applicants — ranging from domain registries to global brands — submitted proposals for the strings they wanted to operate. After a long evaluation and contention-resolution process, the earliest extensions were delegated (added to the root) around late 2013 and into 2014, with hundreds more following over the next several years. In one program, the generic namespace went from a couple of dozen options to many hundreds.
Delegation, not overnight launch
Applying for a new gTLD and actually running it are different steps. A string is only usable once IANA delegates it to the root zone on ICANN’s instruction. That is why the program produced a steady stream of launches across years rather than a single big-bang release.
What kinds of new gTLDs are there?
New gTLDs are easier to understand if you group them by purpose. The categories below are informal, but they capture how the endings are actually used.
| Category | What it suits | Example endings |
|---|---|---|
| Tech & software | Apps, developer tools and startups | .app .dev .tech |
| Commerce | Online shops and retail brands | .shop .store |
| Content & media | Blogs, publications and news | .blog .news |
| Brand TLDs | A single company running its own extension | .google .bmw |
| Geographic / city | Local businesses and city communities | .nyc .london |
| Generic interest | Broad, flexible, anything-goes names | .xyz .online |
The brand TLD category is the most distinctive. Some large companies applied to operate an extension matching their own name — a so-called dot-brand. Those are usually closed: only the brand and its affiliates can register names under them, which is why you will not be able to buy a .google domain yourself.
Pick the ending that matches the message
One advantage of new gTLDs is descriptive matching. A short, exact name on .shop or .app can communicate what you do in the address bar itself. Just weigh that against how familiar the ending is to your audience — our guide on choosing a domain extension walks through the trade-offs.
Are more new gTLDs still coming?
Yes, more are expected, though precise timing is a moving target. The 2012 round was always intended as a beginning rather than a one-off. ICANN has announced plans for subsequent application rounds so that new organisations can apply for new strings in future. Because the schedule and rules are set through ICANN’s policy process and can be revised, it is best to treat any specific future date as approximate and confirm the current status on ICANN’s official program pages.
In practice this means the list of available endings is not frozen. The total count of top-level domains today sits at more than 1,500 — roughly 1,200 generic and around 300 country-code — and the generic figure can grow again whenever a new round delegates further strings.
★ Key takeaways
- New gTLDs are generic endings added through ICANN’s New gTLD Program, which opened for applications in 2012.
- They expanded the generic namespace from about 22 extensions to many hundreds, with the first delegations around 2013–2014.
- They come in categories — tech, commerce, content, brand, geographic and generic-interest endings.
- ICANN has announced plans for further application rounds, so more new gTLDs are expected over time.
Frequently asked questions
What is a new gTLD?
A new gTLD is a generic top-level domain that was added to the internet through ICANN’s New gTLD Program, which began accepting applications in 2012. Examples include .app, .shop, .blog and .xyz. They are called “new” to distinguish them from the small group of legacy generic extensions, such as .com and .org, that existed before the program.
When did the new gTLD program start?
ICANN opened the first application window of the New gTLD Program in January 2012. After evaluation, the earliest new extensions were delegated to the root zone around late 2013 and 2014, and hundreds more followed over the next few years.
How many new gTLDs are there?
The 2012 round expanded the generic namespace from roughly 22 extensions to many hundreds. Today there are more than 1,500 top-level domains in total in the IANA root zone, of which around 1,200 are generic — the large majority created by the New gTLD Program. Exact counts shift as extensions are added or retired.
Are new gTLDs worse for SEO than .com?
Search engines have stated that they treat new gTLDs the same as any other generic extension, so the ending itself is not a ranking penalty. A site on .app or .shop can rank as well as one on .com when its content and links are strong. See do TLDs affect SEO for more.
Will there be more new gTLD application rounds?
ICANN has announced plans for further application rounds to continue after the 2012 program, so additional new gTLDs are expected over time. Timelines and rules are set by ICANN policy and can change, so check ICANN’s official program pages for the current schedule rather than relying on fixed dates.
Sources & further reading
- ICANN (policy body behind the New gTLD Program)
- IANA — Root Zone Database (authoritative list of all delegated TLDs)
- Related: what is a gTLD, gTLD vs ccTLD, how to choose a domain extension, do TLDs affect SEO