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Generic TLD DNSSEC Tech & startups

.docs What it means and what it's used for

.docs is a generic top-level domain (gTLD), aimed at tech & startups. Charleston Road Registry Inc. runs the registry under a contract with ICANN.

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Generic TLD

Generic TLD

.docs

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What is .docs?

.docs entered the DNS root zone on December 18, 2014, 11 years ago. It came out of ICANN's New gTLD Program, the 2012 application round that grew the root from 22 generic TLDs to well over a thousand.

Charleston Road Registry Inc. operates a large portfolio of 46 TLDs, including .ads, .android, .app, .boo and .cal.

On the technical side, .docs is served by 5 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .docs, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP.

Same registry, other endings

45 other TLDs share this operator.

.docs FAQ

What does .docs mean?

.docs is a generic top-level domain named for the word "docs", and it's aimed at tech & startups. It doesn't belong to any country.

What is .docs used for?

.docs is mostly used for tech & startups. Like most gTLDs, it's a label of intent rather than a guarantee — check the site, not just the ending.

What country is .docs?

None. .docs is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.

Who owns the .docs domain extension?

Charleston Road Registry Inc. operates .docs as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.

When was .docs created?

.docs was delegated to the DNS root zone on December 18, 2014.

Is .docs a valid domain?

Yes. .docs is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2014, so .docs addresses work in every browser.

Can I buy a .docs domain?

.docs names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read Charleston Road Registry Inc.'s policy if you're unsure.

Is .docs DNSSEC-signed?

Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .docs.

Sources

Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed April 11, 2025. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

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How well do you know .docs?

Three questions. Each right answer is worth 10 XP — more if you keep a streak going.

  1. 1In which year did .docs enter the root zone?

  2. 2Who runs the .docs registry?

  3. 3Can the public register names under .docs?