Editorial Policy

This site is a reference work. That only means anything if the data is sourced, dated and corrected — here is how we handle that.

What this site is

HostingFlow is an independent reference on top-level domains: what each extension is for, who can register it, and how the domain system fits together. We are not affiliated with any domain registrar, registry operator or hosting provider, we do not sell domains, and we carry no affiliate links to registrars. Nobody pays for a favourable write-up, because there is nothing to buy here.

Where our data comes from

TLD facts — sponsor, registry operator, eligibility rules, launch dates — come from primary sources: IANA's root zone database, ICANN records and the registry operator's own published policy. Where a registry sets unusual eligibility rules, we describe the rule rather than summarising it away.

About the registration figures

Domain counts (for example "160M+ .com domains") are approximate and change every day as names are registered and expire. We publish them to show relative scale, not as a live count, and we say so next to the figures themselves. If a number looks wrong to you, tell us — that is the fastest way this reference improves.

Honesty about what a TLD choice does and does not do

Extension choice affects trust signals, availability and sometimes eligibility. It is not an SEO cheat code, and a new gTLD is not inherently worse or better than a legacy one. Where the honest answer is "it depends, and here is what it depends on", we say that instead of manufacturing a recommendation.

Accuracy and corrections

If we publish something inaccurate, we fix it. Material corrections — anything that changes a fact or a recommendation — are made promptly and noted on the page rather than quietly edited. Minor fixes are made without a note. Spotted an error in a TLD listing, a registry rule, or a guide? Email [email protected] with the page URL and what you believe is correct. Corrections from registry and registrar people are especially welcome.

Use of AI

We may use AI tools to help draft, outline or edit. AI is never the final authority: a person is responsible for every published page, checks its facts against primary sources, and stands behind it. We do not publish unreviewed machine-generated text.

No invented numbers

We do not publish statistics, rankings or credentials we cannot substantiate. Where a figure is an estimate, we label it as one.

Related: About · Domain statistics · Accessibility