What is .phd?
ICANN's records put the delegation of .phd on June 29, 2017. Like most of the newer endings, it was applied for in the 2012 New gTLD Program round and its registry agreement was signed on July 28, 2016.
Charleston Road Registry Inc. operates a large portfolio of 46 TLDs, including .ads, .android, .app, .boo and .cal.
Under the hood, the root zone points to 5 name servers for .phd, every one of them reachable over IPv6. The delegation is DNSSEC-signed, so resolvers can verify that answers for .phd haven't been tampered with on the way. Registration data is published over RDAP.
Same registry, other endings
45 other TLDs share this operator.
.phd FAQ
What does .phd mean?
.phd is a generic top-level domain named for the word "phd", and it's aimed at education & research. It doesn't belong to any country.
What is .phd used for?
.phd is mostly used for education & research. Like most gTLDs, it's a label of intent rather than a guarantee — check the site, not just the ending.
What country is .phd?
None. .phd is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .phd domain extension?
Charleston Road Registry Inc. operates .phd as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .phd created?
.phd was delegated to the DNS root zone on June 29, 2017.
Is .phd a valid domain?
Yes. .phd is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2017, so .phd addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .phd domain?
.phd 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 .phd DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .phd.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed April 11, 2025. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
