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Generic TLD DNSSEC Creative & design

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

.ink is a generic top-level domain (gTLD), aimed at creative & design. Registry Services, LLC runs the registry under a contract with ICANN.

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Generic TLD

Generic TLD

.ink

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What is .ink?

ICANN's records put the delegation of .ink on March 11, 2014. Like most of the newer endings, it was applied for in the 2012 New gTLD Program round and its registry agreement was signed on December 5, 2013.

Registry Services, LLC operates a large portfolio of 36 TLDs, including .abogado, .beer, .biz, .blackfriday and .boston.

Under the hood, the root zone points to 6 name servers for .ink, every one of them reachable over IPv6. The delegation is DNSSEC-signed, so resolvers can verify that answers for .ink haven't been tampered with on the way. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.ink).

Same registry, other endings

35 other TLDs share this operator.

.ink FAQ

What does .ink mean?

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

What is .ink used for?

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

What country is .ink?

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

Who owns the .ink domain extension?

Registry Services, LLC operates .ink as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.

When was .ink created?

.ink was delegated to the DNS root zone on March 11, 2014.

Is .ink a valid domain?

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

Can I buy a .ink domain?

.ink names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read Registry Services, LLC's policy if you're unsure.

Is .ink DNSSEC-signed?

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

Sources

Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed October 14, 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

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How well do you know .ink?

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

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

  2. 2Who runs the .ink registry?

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