What is .top?
.top entered the DNS root zone on August 3, 2014, 12 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.
On the technical side, .top is served by 8 authoritative name servers, 3 of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .top, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.top).
.top FAQ
What does .top mean?
.top is a generic top-level domain named for the word "top". It doesn't belong to any country.
What country is .top?
None. .top is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .top domain extension?
Hong Kong Zhongze International Limited operates .top as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .top created?
.top was delegated to the DNS root zone on August 3, 2014.
Is .top a valid domain?
Yes. .top is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2014, so .top addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .top domain?
.top names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read Hong Kong Zhongze International Limited's policy if you're unsure.
Is .top DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .top.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed October 9, 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
