5

Is the combination co.uk considered to be a top level domain, or is co.uk considered to be a subdomain of uk?

If it is the latter, is the .uk domain owned and operated by the same group that owns co.uk? This would explain why one can purchase a *.co.uk domain (or similar domains, such as *.org.uk), but domain registrars do not sell *.uk domains on their own.

Improve this question
5
  • Or is my pedantic question ridiculous as everything is a subdomain of . anyway?
    – IQAndreas
    Commented May 15, 2014 at 21:42
  • 1
    The latter; yes, Nominet. I'm not sure what you mean by "the two are sold as a pair".
    – MadHatter
    Commented May 15, 2014 at 21:44
  • @MadHatter By that I mean by going through domain registrars, you can't purchase a *.uk domain, instead, you can purchase .co.uk or org.uk. You have to purchase it "paired" the with co prefix.
    – IQAndreas
    Commented May 15, 2014 at 21:51
  • 1
    What you can or cannot register is not related to the definition of a TLD. (uk is the TLD)
    – Håkan Lindqvist
    Commented May 15, 2014 at 21:59
  • For more details on the specifics of .UK domains, including subdomains like .CO.UK, check out this guide nominus.com/en/dm/uk-domain-names-united-kingdom on .UK domain names. It provides comprehensive information and services for UK domain registrations.
    – Nooruddin Lakhani
    Commented Aug 26 at 7:42

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
14

The latter. .uk is a CCTLD, or Country Code Top-Level Domain; .co.uk is a subdomain thereof.

The whole of the .uk namespace is operated by Nominet Ltd.

For many years, direct registration under .uk hasn't been allowed, and the namespace has been split into the subdomains we know and love (including .co.uk, .org.uk, .net.uk, .me.uk, .parliament.uk, and so on) inside which registration was allowed (though not necessarily by everyone; some of those subdomains have very strict registration rules). But you probably ought to know that - against the wishes of many in the internet community in the UK - Nominet is opening up direct registrations in the .uk namespace as of 10 June 2014. More details can be found at http://www.nominet.org.uk/uk-domain-names/introducing-uk .

Improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .