View source for .br

{{Short description|Internet country code top-level domain for Brazil}}
{{Confused|.бг}}
{{expand Portuguese|topic=|otherarticle=.br|date=August 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox Top level domain
| name=.br
| image=DotBr logo.svg
| introduced=18 April 1989
| type=[[Country code top-level domain]] (ccTLD)
| status=Active
| registry=[[Registro.br]]
| sponsor=[[CGI.br]]
| registereddomains=5,388,244<!-- Don't forget to update this value when updating the reference below -->
| dateregistereddomains=2024-09-09
| refregistereddomains=<ref name="estatisticas"><!-- Statistics from this reference are used throughout the page; don't forget to update them as well -->{{ cite web | url=https://registro.br/dominio/estatisticas/ | title=Estatísticas | lang=pt-br | date=9 September 2024 | website=Registro.br | access-date=9 September 2024 | url-status=live | archive-date=9 September 2024 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20240909171033/https://registro.br/dominio/estatisticas/ }}</ref>
| intendeduse=Entities connected with [[Brazil]]
| actualuse=Very popular in Brazil
| restrictions=Varying restrictions based on which second-level name registration is within. In all cases the registrant must have either a [[CPF number|CPF]] or [[CNPJ]], documents usually granted only to Brazilian residents or recognized companies
| structure={{plainlist|
* Registrations at third level beneath various categories (but ''.com.br'' is still much more popular than others);
* Second-level registrations were allowed for institutions of higher education until 2000}}
| document=
| disputepolicy=
| website={{URL|https://registro.br}}
| dnssec=yes
|image_size=150px}}

'''.br''' is the [[Internet]] [[country code]] [[top-level domain]] ([[ccTLD]]) for [[Brazil]]. It was administered by the [[Brazilian Internet Steering Committee]] until 2005 when it started being administered by [[Brazilian Network Information Center]]. A local contact is required for any registration. Registrations of domain names with Portuguese characters are also accepted.

With the exception of universities, the [[second-level domain]] is fixed and selected from a list that defines the category. For example, {{mono|.art.br}} is in the [[art]] (music, folklore ''etc.'') category, and {{mono|.org.br}} is in the [[non-governmental organization]] category. Institutions of [[tertiary education]] were allowed to use the [[Country code second-level domain|ccSLD]] {{mono|.edu.br}}, although some use {{mono|.com.br}} and others (mainly public universities) use {{mono|.br}}. There are also some other few exceptions that were allowed to use the second level domain until the end of 2000. As of April 2010, most domain registrations ignore categories and register in the {{mono|.com.br}} domain, which has over 90% of all registered domains. The {{mono|.jus.br}} (Judiciary), and {{mono|.b.br}} (banks) domains have mandatory [[DNSSEC]] use.

== History ==
Created and delegated to Brazil in 1989<ref>[https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/br.html IANA] - Informações sobre a delegação do .br</ref> by [[Jon Postel]],<ref>[http://nic.br/imprensa/releases/2009/rl-2009-08.htm NIC.br] - CGI.br comemora os 20 anos do ".br"</ref> initially the domain was operated manually by [[Registro.br]] and administered by the [[Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo]] (FAPESP).  Originally, only researchers and institutions to which they belonged had the interest and ability to adopt the new system and register domains under .br.

At the time, networks prevalent in the Brazilian academic setting were the [[BITNET]] ("Because It's Time NETwork"), the [[HEPnet]] ("High Energy Physics Network") and the [[UUCP]] ("Unix-to-Unix Copy Program").  As such, even before Brazil officially connected to the Internet in 1991, the .br domain was used to identify the machines participating in networks already in use by academics.

In 1995 the [[Brazilian Internet Steering Committee]] ({{langx|pt|Comitê Gestor da Internet no Brasil}}, or simply CGI.br) was created with an objective to coordinate the allocation of Internet addresses (IPs) and the registration of .br domain names. There were 851 domains registered with the Brazilian [[DNS]] by the beginning of 1996, thereafter experiencing rapid growth with the mass arrival of companies, Internet providers and media onto the Internet. The registration system was automated in 1997 and was developed using open source software.

In 2005, CGI.br created its own executive arm, the [[Brazilian Network Information Center]] ({{langx|pt|Núcleo de Informação e Coordenação do Ponto BR}}, or simply NIC.br),<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.cgi.br/noticia/notas/comunicado-ao-publico/ | title=Comunicado ao Público | publisher=[[CGI.br]] | date=14 February 2006 | access-date=18 August 2021 }}</ref> which currently serves in both administrative and operational capacity for the registry.

In 2017, accounts associated with DNS records of Brazilian banks were hacked. [[Kaspersky Lab|Kaspersky's]] researchers pointed out to a vulnerability in NIC.br's website and suggested its infrastructure had been compromised. NIC's director at the time, Frederico Neves, denied that NIC.br was "hacked", although NIC.br admitted the vulnerability.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2017/04/hackers-hijacked-banks-entire-online-operation/|title=How Hackers Hijacked a Bank's Entire Online Operation|magazine=Wired|author=Andy Greenberg|date=4 April 2017|quote= Kaspersky believes the attackers compromised NIC.br (...) Kaspersky points to a January blog post from NIC.br that admitted to a vulnerability in its website (...) [Frederico Neves] denied that NIC.br had been "hacked." But he conceded that accounts may have been altered}}</ref>

== Domain registry ==
To register any domains under .br, it is necessary to enter into contact with Registro.br.  Entities legally established in Brazil as a company ("[[CNPJ|pessoa jurídica]]") or a physical person ("profissional liberal" and "pessoas físicas") that has a contact within Brazil can register domains.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Choose a .BR Domain for Your Business in Brazil? |url=https://www.nominus.com/en/dm/blog/country-domains/august-2021/why-register-a-br-domain-in-brazil |website=www.nominus.com |language=en}}</ref> Foreign companies that have a power-of-attorney legally established in Brazil can also do it by following [http://registro.br/dominio/reg-estrangeiros.html specific rules].

The registration of domains including non-[[ASCII]] [[Portuguese alphabet|Portuguese characters]] (à, á, â, ã, é, ê, í, ó, ô, õ, ú, ü and ç) is accepted since 2005.<ref name="Registro.br - Tips and Rules">[http://registro.br/info/dicas.html Registro.br - Tips and Rules]</ref>

=== Syntactic rules for .br domains ===
* Minimum of 2 and maximum of 26 characters, not including the category.  For example, in the field XXXX.COM.BR, this limitation relates to the XXXX.
* Valid characters are [A-Z, 0-9], the hyphen, and the following accented characters: à, á, â, ã, é, ê, í, ó, ô, õ, ú, ü, ç.<ref name="Registro.br - Tips and Rules"/>
* Domains cannot contain only numbers.
* To maintain the integrity of the registry, Registro.br sets up an equivalence mapping to compare domain names with and without accented characters. The mapping is done by converting accented characters and the cedilla for their non-accented versions and "c", respectively, and discards hyphens. A new domain will only be allowed to be registered when there is no equivalent to a pre-existing domain, or when the applicant is the same entity that owns the domain equivalent.

:Specifically for the domain .NOM.BR, it is necessary to choose two names, i.e.: NAME1.NAME2.NOM.BR.

==Second-level domains==
=== Direct registration ===
In 1991, it was decided that universities and research institutes would be allowed second-level .br domains directly. For example: [[Federal University of Rio de Janeiro]] got ''ufrj.br''; [[University of São Paulo]] got ''usp.br''; [[National Institute for Space Research]] got ''inpe.br''; and so on.<ref>{{Cite journal | url=https://www.cgi.br/publicacao/nomes-de-dominio-na-internet/ | title=Nomes de domínio na internet | lang=pt-br | first=Demi | last=Getschko | publisher=[[CGI.br]] | journal=Pesquisa sobre o uso das tecnologias da informação e da comunicação 2005 | location=[[São Paulo]] | pages=21–24 | date=1 April 2006 | access-date=18 August 2021 }}</ref>

In late 2000, the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee reported abuse in this system, and called for all institutions directly under .br to be moved to .edu.br – so, for example, ''ufrj.br'' would become ''ufrj.edu.br''. During a meeting in early 2001, however, the Committee decided it would be of public interest to not move every second-level domain as to avoid confusion, but instead established rules regarding their registration:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nic.br/registro-nota-edu/ | title=Nota de Esclarecimento sobre utilização do DPN .edu | lang=pt-br | website=[[NIC.br]] | access-date=18 August 2021 }}</ref>

* No longer accepting automatic registration of second-level domains, and evaluating every request for one individually;
* Creating edu.br, and forwarding requests from education and research institutions to it;
* Concession to education and research institutes that already had a second-level .br domain, as long as its usage is appropriate and that domain name is related to the institution's name or acronym. Domains approved are automatically duplicated under edu.br as well, and both may exist concurrently – for example, the still existing ''ufrj.br'' also has a registered ''ufrj.edu.br'', although the latter is not used;
* Other institutions not approved above must be migrated permanently to edu.br (but would be given sufficient time for the transition).

As of September 2024, Registro.br reports 1207 domains registered directly under .br.<ref name="estatisticas" />

=== Predefined domains ===
As of August 2025, there are 147 different second-level domains of .br under which custom domains can be registered, and they are divided into eleven categories: "Generic", "Business", "Culture", "Education", "Personals", "Entertainment", "Public Authority", "Locations", "Professions", "Technology" and "[[Voluntary sector|Third Sector]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://registro.br/dominio/categorias/ | title=Categorias .br | lang=pt-br | trans-title=.br Categories | website=Registro.br | access-date=20 August 2025 }}</ref> They are the following:

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Generic" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''COM'''.br
| Commercial activities
|-
| '''NET'''.br
| Commercial activities
|-
| '''SOCIAL'''.br
| Social networks
|-
| '''XYZ'''.br
| Miscellaneous
|-
| '''WIKI'''.br
| [[Wiki]]-like pages
|-
| '''ETC'''.br
| Companies that do not fit into other categories
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Culture" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''ART'''.br
| Arts: music, painting, [[Brazilian Folklore|folklore]]
|-
| '''REC'''.br
| Recreational activities, games
|-
| '''TV'''.br
| [[Broadcasting]] companies or "transmission of sounds and images via the Internet"
|-
| '''AM'''.br
| [[AM broadcasting|Radio]] companies
|-
| '''FM'''.br
| [[FM broadcasting|Radio]] companies
|-
| '''RADIO'''.br
| "Companies wishing to transmit audio through the network"
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Business" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''ECO'''.br
| Eco- or environment focused activities
|-
| '''LOG'''.br
| Transport and logistics
|-
| '''EMP'''.br
| Small and [[micro-enterprise]]s
|-
| '''LEILAO'''.br
| [[Auctioneer]]s{{efn|Requires authorization by the ''Federação das Juntas Comerciais'' (Federation of Commercial Registries).}}
|-
| '''AGR'''.br
| [[Agriculture]]- or [[farm]]-related companies
|-
| '''FAR'''.br
| [[Pharmacy (shop)|Pharmacies]] and drugstores
|-
| '''IMB'''.br
| Real estate agencies
|-
| '''IND'''.br
| Industries
|-
| '''INF'''.br
| Media and information (radios, newspapers, libraries, ...)
|-
| '''SRV'''.br
| [[Work for hire]]
|-
| '''TMP'''.br
| Temporary events, such as [[fair]]s and [[Trade fair|expos]]
|-
| '''TUR'''.br
| [[Tourism]]-related companies
|-
| '''PSI'''.br
| [[Internet service provider]]s
|-
| '''B'''.br
| [[Bank]]s{{efn|name="dnssec"|Requires [[DNSSEC]].}}
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Education" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''EDU'''.br
| Higher education institutions
|-
| '''G12'''.br
| [[Primary school|Primary]] or [[secondary school]]s ([[K–12]] equivalent)
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Personals" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''BLOG'''.br
| [[Blog|Web logs]]
|-
| '''NOM'''.br
| [[Natural person]]s
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Entertainment" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''BET'''.br
| [[Online gambling]]{{efn|name="dnssec"}}
|-
| '''FLOG'''.br
| Photo logs
|-
| '''QSL'''.br
| [[Amateur radio operator]]s
|-
| '''VLOG'''.br
| [[Vlog|Video logs]]
|-
| '''ESP'''.br
| [[Sport]] in general
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Public Authority" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''GOV'''.br
| [[Federal government of Brazil|Federal government]] institutions
|-
| '''MIL'''.br
| [[Brazilian Armed Forces]]
|-
| '''DEF'''.br
| [[Public defender]]s{{efn|name="dnssec"}}
|-
| '''JUS'''.br
| [[Judiciary of Brazil|Judiciary]] institutions{{efn|name="dnssec"}}
|-
| '''LEG'''.br
| [[Legislature|Legislative]] institutions{{efn|name="dnssec"}}
|-
| '''MP'''.br
| [[Public Prosecutor's Office (Brazil)|Public Ministry]] institutions{{efn|name="dnssec"}}
|-
| '''TC'''.br
| [[Tribunal de Contas da União]]{{efn|name="dnssec"}}
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Locations" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''9GUACU'''.br
| [[Nova Iguaçu]], Rio de Janeiro
|-
| '''ABC'''.br
| [[ABC Region]], São Paulo
|-
| '''AJU'''.br
| [[Aracaju]], Sergipe
|-
| '''ANANI'''.br
| [[Ananindeua]], Pará
|-
| '''APARECIDA'''.br
| [[Aparecida]], São Paulo
|-
| '''BARUERI'''.br
| [[Barueri]], São Paulo
|-
| '''BELEM'''.br
| [[Belém]], Pará
|-
| '''BHZ'''.br
| [[Belo Horizonte]], Minas Gerais
|-
| '''BOAVISTA'''.br
| [[Boa Vista, Roraima|Boa Vista]], Roraima
|-
| '''BSB'''.br
| [[Brasília]], Federal District
|-
| '''CAMPINAGRANDE'''.br
| [[Campina Grande]], Paraíba
|-
| '''CAMPINAS'''.br
| [[Campinas]], São Paulo
|-
| '''CAXIAS'''.br
| [[Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro|Duque de Caxias]], Rio de Janeiro<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nic.br/noticia/na-midia/duque-de-caxias-tera-dominios-caxias-br/ | title=Duque de Caxias terá domínios 'caxias.br' | lang=pt-br | trans-title=Duque de Caxias will have 'caxias.br' domains | website=[[NIC.br]] | date=1 September 2017 | access-date=18 August 2021 }}</ref>
|-
| '''CONTAGEM'''.br
| [[Contagem]], Minas Gerais
|-
| '''CUIABA'''.br
| [[Cuiabá]], Mato Grosso
|-
| '''CURITIBA'''.br
| [[Curitiba]], Paraná
|-
| '''FEIRA'''.br
| [[Feira de Santana]], Bahia
|-
| '''FLORIPA'''.br
| [[Florianópolis]], Santa Catarina
|-
| '''FORTAL'''.br
| [[Fortaleza]], Ceará
|-
| '''FOZ'''.br
| [[Foz do Iguaçu]], Paraná
|-
| '''GOIANIA'''.br
| [[Goiânia]], Goiás
|-
| '''GRU'''.br
| [[Guarulhos]], São Paulo
|-
| '''JAB'''.br
| [[Jaboatão dos Guararapes]], Pernambuco
|-
| '''JAMPA'''.br
| [[João Pessoa, Paraíba|João Pessoa]], Paraíba
|-
| '''JDF'''.br
| [[Juiz de Fora]], Minas Gerais
|-
| '''JOINVILLE'''.br
| [[Joinville]], Santa Catarina
|-
| '''LONDRINA'''.br
| [[Londrina]], Paraná
|-
| '''MACAPA'''.br
| [[Macapá]], Amapá
|-
| '''MACEIO'''.br
| [[Maceió]], Alagoas
|-
| '''MANAUS'''.br
| [[Manaus]], Amazonas
|-
| '''MARINGA'''.br
| [[Maringá]], Paraná
|-
| '''MORENA'''.br
| [[Campo Grande]], Mato Grosso do Sul
|-
| '''NATAL'''.br
| [[Natal, Rio Grande do Norte|Natal]], Rio Grande do Norte
|-
| '''NITEROI'''.br
| [[Niterói]], Rio de Janeiro
|-
| '''OSASCO'''.br
| [[Osasco]], São Paulo
|-
| '''PALMAS'''.br
| [[Palmas, Tocantins|Palmas]], Tocantins
|-
| '''POA'''.br
| [[Porto Alegre]], Rio Grande do Sul
|-
| '''PVH'''.br
| [[Porto Velho]], Rondônia
|-
| '''RECIFE'''.br
| [[Recife]], Pernambuco
|-
| '''RIBEIRAO'''.br
| [[Ribeirão Preto]], São Paulo<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nic.br/noticia/na-midia/ribeirao-preto-ganha-proprio-dominio-de-internet/ | title=Ribeirão Preto ganha próprio domínio de internet | lang=pt-br | trans-title=Ribeirão Preto gets its own internet domain | first=Leonardo | last=Santos | website=[[NIC.br]] | date=22 September 2017 | access-date=18 August 2021 }}</ref>
|-
| '''RIO'''.br
| [[Rio de Janeiro]], Rio de Janeiro
|-
| '''RIOBRANCO'''.br
| [[Rio Branco, Acre|Rio Branco]], Acre
|-
| '''RIOPRETO'''.br
| [[São José do Rio Preto]], São Paulo
|-
| '''SALVADOR'''.br
| [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]], Bahia
|-
| '''SAMPA'''.br
| [[São Paulo]], São Paulo
|-
| '''SANTAMARIA'''.br
| [[Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul|Santa Maria]], Rio Grande do Sul
|-
| '''SANTOANDRE'''.br
| [[Santo André, São Paulo|Santo André]], São Paulo
|-
| '''SAOBERNARDO'''.br
| [[São Bernardo do Campo]], São Paulo
|-
| '''SAOGONCA'''.br
| [[São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro|São Gonçalo]], Rio de Janeiro
|-
| '''SJC'''.br
| [[São José dos Campos]], São Paulo
|-
| '''SLZ'''.br
| [[São Luís, Maranhão|São Luís]], Maranhão
|-
| '''SOROCABA'''.br
| [[Sorocaba]], São Paulo
|-
| '''THE'''.br
| [[Teresina]], Piauí
|-
| '''UDI'''.br
| [[Uberlândia]], Minas Gerais
|-
| '''VIX'''.br
| [[Vitória, Espírito Santo|Vitória]], Espírito Santo
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Professionals" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''ADM'''.br
| [[Business administration|Administrators]]
|-
| '''ADV'''.br
| [[Lawyer]]s
|-
| '''ARQ'''.br
| [[Architecture]]
|-
| '''ATO'''.br
| Actors
|-
| '''BIB'''.br
| [[Librarian]]s and [[Library science|library scientists]]
|-
| '''BIO'''.br
| [[Biologist]]s
|-
| '''BMD'''.br
| [[Biomedical scientist]]s
|-
| '''CIM'''.br
| [[Realtor]]s
|-
| '''CNG'''.br
| [[Scenographer]]s
|-
| '''CNT'''.br
| [[Accountant]]s
|-
| '''COZ'''.br
| [[Gastronomy|Gastronomists]]
|-
| '''DES'''.br
| [[Designer]]s and [[illustrator]]s
|-
| '''DET'''.br
| [[Detective]]s and [[private investigator]]
|-
| '''ECN'''.br
| [[Economist]]s
|-
| '''ENF'''.br
| [[Nurse]]s
|-
| '''ENG'''.br
| [[Engineer]]s
|-
| '''ETI'''.br
| [[Information technology|IT]] professionals
|-
| '''FND'''.br
| [[Speech–language_pathology|Speech–language pathologist]]
|-
| '''FOT'''.br
| [[Photographer]]s
|-
| '''FST'''.br
| [[Physical therapists]]s
|-
| '''GEO'''.br
| [[Geologist]]s
|-
| '''GGF'''.br
| [[Geography]] professionals
|-
| '''JOR'''.br
| [[Journalist]]s
|-
| '''LEL'''.br
| [[Auctioneer]]s
|-
| '''MAT'''.br
| [[Mathematician]]s and [[statistician]]s
|-
| '''MED'''.br
| [[Physician|Medical doctors]]
|-
| '''MUS'''.br
| [[Musician]]s
|-
| '''NOT'''.br
| [[Notary|Notaries]]
|-
| '''NTR'''.br
| [[Nutritionist]]s
|-
| '''ODO'''.br
| [[Dentist]]s
|-
| '''PPG'''.br
| [[Publicist]]s and [[Marketing|marketeers]]
|-
| '''PRO'''.br
| [[Teacher]]s and [[professor]]s
|-
| '''PSC'''.br
| [[Psychologist]]s
|-
| '''REP'''.br
| Commercial representatives
|-
| '''SLG'''.br
| [[Sociology|Sociologists]]
|-
| '''TAXI'''.br
| [[Taxi|Taxi drivers]]
|-
| '''TEO'''.br
| [[Theologist]]s
|-
| '''TRD'''.br
| [[Translator]]s
|-
| '''VET'''.br
| [[Veterinarian]]s
|-
| '''ZLG'''.br
| [[Zoologist]]s
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "Technology" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''API'''.br
| [[API|Application interfaces]]
|-
| '''APP'''.br
| Apps
|-
| '''DEV'''.br
| Developers and development platforms
|-
| '''IA'''.br
| [[Artificial intelligence]]
|-
| '''SEG'''.br
| Security
|-
| '''TEC'''.br
| Technology
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" border="1"
! colspan="2" | "[[Voluntary sector|Third Sector]]" second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Intended use
|-
| '''COOP'''.br
| [[Cooperative]]s
|-
| '''ONG'''.br
| [[Non-governmental organization]]s
|-
| '''ORG'''.br
| [[Nonprofit organization|Not-for-profit]] [[non-governmental organization]]s
|-
|}

==== Special second-level domains ====
From 2000 until 2009, during election cycles, electoral candidates could register domains under '''CAN'''.br, with the format ''[name][number].can.br'' – where the name is the registered candidate name, and the number is the identification number for that candidate in the election (related to the [[Political party|party]]'s identification number).<ref name="nic-can.br">{{cite web | url=https://www.nic.br/noticia/na-midia/eleicoes-2008-candidatos-terao-dominio-can-br/ | title=Eleições 2008: candidatos terão domínio can.br | lang=pt-br | trans-title=2008 Elections: candidates will have can.br domain | first=Larissa | last=Januário | website=[[NIC.br]] | date=24 March 2008 | access-date=18 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819013012/https://www.nic.br/noticia/na-midia/eleicoes-2008-candidatos-terao-dominio-can-br/ | archive-date=19 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cg.org.br/reunioes/ata/2002/02 | title=Ata da Reunião de 28 de fevereiro de 2002 | lang=pt-br | date=28 February 2002 | access-date=18 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714195722/http://www.cg.org.br/reunioes/ata/2002/02 | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> The second-level domain was in a category of its own, called "natural persons, special".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cgi.br/resolucoes/documento/2008/008/ | title=Resolução CGI.br/RES/2008/008/P | lang=pt-br | website=[[CGI.br]] | date=28 November 2008 | access-date=18 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064005/http://cgi.br/resolucoes/documento/2008/008/ | archive-date=21 April 2014 }}</ref>

As an example, during the 2004 elections for mayor of [[Aracaju]]:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://infonet.com.br/eleicoes/2004/ler.asp-546.html | title=Como a Internet está ajudando eleitores e candidatos | lang=pt-br | first=Carlos Eduardo | last=Franciscato | website=Infonet | date=11 September 2004 | access-date=18 August 2021 }}</ref>

* [[Marcelo Déda]] had the website ''deda13.can.br'' (his surname and [[Workers' Party (Brazil)|Worker's Party]]'s identification number, 13);
* Susana Azevedo had the website ''susana23.can.br'' (her first name and [[Cidadania]]'s identification number, 23);
* Jorge Alberto had the website ''jorgealberto15.can.br'' (his name and [[Brazilian Democratic Movement|MDB]]'s identification number, 15).

Domains were free for registered candidates. Additionally, domains were automatically cancelled at the end of the [[Two-round system|first round]] if the candidate lost, and remaining ones were cancelled after the end of the second round.<ref name="nic-can.br" />

No new .can.br domains have been registered since 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://registro.br/stat/can.br_2a.png | title=can.br - 31/12/1995 a 17/08/2021 | lang=pt-br | website=[[Registro.br]] | access-date=18 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819010958/https://registro.br/stat/can.br_2a.png | archive-date=19 August 2021 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Online gambling ====
In late 2024, legislation regulating [[online gambling]] in Brazil – usually referred to simply as "bets" in the country – was passed. Among the stipulations was that, from January 2025 onward, such companies must operate under a '''BET'''.br domain.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.gov.br/secom/pt-br/fatos/brasil-contra-fake/noticias/2024/10/bets-nao-autorizadas-estao-proibidas-de-funcionar-desde-terca-feira-1o | title=Quais bets estão autorizadas a funcionar no Brasil | lang=pt-br | trans-title=What ''bets'' are authorized to operate in Brazil | website=[[Federal Government of Brazil]] | date=2 October 2024 | access-date=24 October 2024 }}</ref> By definition, any online gambling websites not operating under a .bet.br domain are operating illegally.

=== Agencies ===
There are multiple agencies registered directly under .br, as second-level domains, that are not higher education or research institutions. The following list might not be exhaustive:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+ Agencies on second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Domain meaning
! Description
|-
| [[CGI.br|'''CGI'''.br]] || Acronym for "Comitê Gestor da Internet" ({{lit|Internet Administration Committee}}) || The Committee establishes strategic directives related to the use and development of the internet in Brazil, directives for the registration of domain names, IP allocation and administration regarding the .br TLD
|-
| [[NIC.br|'''NIC'''.br]] || Acronym for [[InterNIC|Network Information Center]] || Created to implement decisions and projects of the Committee (CGI.br)
|-
| [[IX.br|'''IX'''.br]]<br>'''PTT'''.br (old)|| IX: Acronym for [[Internet exchange point|Internet eXchange]]<br>PTT: Acronym for "Ponto de Troca de Tráfego" ({{lit|Traffic Exchange Point}}) || Handles the internet exchange point system of Brazil
|-
| [[Registro.br|'''REGISTRO'''.br]] || Portuguese for "registration" || .br registry
|-
| '''CETIC'''.br || Acronym for "CEntro de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação" ({{lit|Center of Information and Communications Technology}}) || Officially called "Centro Regional de Estudos para o Desenvolvimento da Sociedade da Informação", it monitors the adoption of [[information and communications technology]] in Brazil
|-
| '''CEPTRO'''.br || Acronym for "Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas em Tecnologia de Redes e Operações" ({{lit|Center for Studies and Research in Network Technology and Operations}}) || Responsible for initiatives and projects that support or perfect the internet infrastructure in Brazil
|-
| '''CERT'''.br || Acronym for [[Computer emergency response team|Computer Emergency Response Team]] || Has the mission to increase the security levels and incident handling capabilities regarding networks connected to Brazil's internet
|-
| '''CEWEB'''.br || Acronym for "Centro de Estudos sobre Tecnologias Web" ({{lit|Center for Studies on Web Technologies}}) || Has the mission to enable the participation of the Brazilian community in the global development of the web
|-
| '''W3C'''.br || [[W3C]] || Brazilian branch of the World Wide Web Consortium
|-
| '''NTP'''.br || Acronym for [[Network Time Protocol]] || Provides the legal, [[standard time]] for Brazil
|-
| '''IPV6'''.br || [[IPv6]] || Promote and disseminate IPv6 usage in Brazil
|-
| '''ANTISPAM'''.br || [[Anti-spam techniques|Anti-spam]] || Has the mission to inform users and network administrators about spam, its implications and forms of protection and combat
|-
| '''INTERNETSEGURA'''.br || Portuguese for "Safe Internet" || Has the mission to incentivize the safe use of the internet
|-
| '''ZAPPIENS'''.br || Named after [[Portugal]]'s now defunct ''Zappiens.pt'', managed by the [[Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional|FCCN]] || Has the mission to be a free service for the aggregation and distribution of audiovisual scientific, educational, artistic and cultural content in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
|}

Most of these agencies are subsidiaries of [[CGI.br]] and, as such, they follow a similar [[corporate identity]]. The "logos" are combinations of the names of the agencies with the logo for .br, all of which are simply typed out with Brandon Schoech (Tepid Monkey)'s [[freeware]] font "Qhytsdakx":

<gallery>
File:DotBr logo.svg|Logo for .br, a slightly modified "br" in green
File:Cgi.br.svg|Logo for [[CGI.br]]
File:NIC.br logo.svg|Logo for [[NIC.br]]
File:Ix.br.svg|Logo for [[IX.br]]
File:DotBr domain logo.svg|Logo for [[Registro.br]]
File:IPv6.br logo.svg|Logo for IPv6.br
</gallery>

=== Networks ===
There are multiple networks registered directly under .br, usually of academic nature. Again, this list may not be exhaustive:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+ Networks on second-level .br domains
|-
! Domain
! Domain meaning
! Description
|-
|-
| [[Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa|'''RNP'''.br]]<br>'''RNP2'''.br || Acronym for "Rede Nacional de ensino e Pesquisa" ({{lit|National Network of Education and Research}}) || An academic backbone of Brazilian internet
|-
| '''RCT-SC'''.br || Acronym for "Rede Catarinense de Ciência e Tecnologia" ({{lit|Santa Catarina Network for Science and Technology}}) || Academic network for the state of [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]
|-
| '''REDERIO'''.br || "Rede Rio" ({{lit|Rio Network}}) || Academic network for the state of [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]]
|-
| '''REDNESP'''.br<br>'''ANSP'''.br (old) || Acronym for "Research and EDucation NEtwork at São Paulo" || Academic network for the state of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]
|-
| '''TCHE'''.br || "Rede Tchê" ({{lit|Tchê Network}}), named after the interjection common in the South of Brazil, [[Che (interjection)|tchê]] || Academic network for the [[South Region, Brazil|South Region]] of Brazil
|}

== Usage statistics ==
As of September 2024, .BR is the 9th most used TLD in the world and the 6th most used ccTLD, accounting for approximately 1.5% of all domain names.<ref name="netmeister-tldstats">{{cite web |last=Schaumann |first=Jan |date=20 September 2024 |title=DNS Zone Stats |url=https://www.netmeister.org/tldstats/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917162248/https://www.netmeister.org/tldstats/ |archive-date=17 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=Netmeister.org}}</ref> It is also the most used [[Portuguese language]] TLD.{{efn|Counting existing domain names, as of September 2024:<ref name="netmeister-tldstats"/>
* .BR had around 5,300,000;
* [[.PT]] had around 1,900,000;
* [[.ST]] had around 30,000;
* [[.GQ]] had around 15,000;
* [[.AO]] had around 12,000;
* [[.MZ]] had around 10,000;
* [[.CV]] had around 3,000;
* [[.MO]] had around 3,000;
* [[.TL]] had around 2,000;
* [[.RIO]] had around 700;
* [[.GW]] had around 400.}}

{{Pie chart
|caption = Usage of the .BR space, highlighting its five most registered [[second-level domain]]s
|value1 = 93.04
|label1 = COM.BR
|value2 = 1.40
|label2 = NET.BR
|value3 = 0.99
|label3 = ORG.BR
|value4 = 0.91
|label4 = ADV.BR
|value5 = 0.42
|label5 = IND.BR
|other = yes
|footer=Data as of 9 September 2024.<ref name="estatisticas"/>
}}

As of 9 September 2024, Registro.br's statistics page reported the following:<ref name="estatisticas" />

* '''{{val|5388244|fmt=commas}}''' total domains registered under .BR;
* '''{{val|1629955|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|1629955|5388244|2}}) domains using [[DNSSEC]].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Second-level domain breakdown per category (see {{Section link||Predefined domains}})
|-
! Category !! Total domain count !! Most registered !! Least registered
|-
| Generic || '''{{val|5089895|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|5089895|5388244|2}}) || COM.BR ('''{{val|5013151|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|5013151|5388244|2}} of the total) || WIKI.BR ('''{{val|504|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|504|5388244|2}} of the total)
|-
| Business || '''{{val|61196|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|61196|5388244|2}}) || IND.BR ('''{{val|22884|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|22884|5388244|2}} of the total) || TMP.BR ('''{{val|148|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|148|5388244|3}}  of the total)
|-
| Culture || '''{{val|15314|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|15314|5388244|2}}) || ART.BR ('''{{val|10235|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|10235|5388244|2}} of the total) || AM.BR ('''{{val|68|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|68|5388244|3}} of the total)
|-
| Education || '''{{val|5331|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|5331|5388244|2}}) || EDU.BR ('''{{val|3576|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|3576|5388244|2}} of the total) || G12.BR ('''{{val|548|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|548|5388244|3}} of the total)
|-
| Personals || '''{{val|7364|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|7364|5388244|2}}) || BLOG.BR ('''{{val|6176|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|6176|5388244|2}} of the total) || NOM.BR ('''{{val|1188|fmt=commas}}''' each, or {{pct|1188|5388244|2}} of the total)
|-
| Entertainment|| '''{{val|1559|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|1559|5388244|2}}) || ESP.BR ('''{{val|1099|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|1099|5388244|2}} of the total) || QSL.BR ('''{{val|80|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|80|5388244|3}} of the total)
|-
| Public Authority || '''{{val|1687|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|1687|5388244|2}}) || GOV.BR ('''{{val|1273|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|1273|5388244|2}} of the total) || DEF.BR ('''{{val|28|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|28|5388244|3}} of the total)
|-
| Locations || '''{{val|13020|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|13020|5388244|2}}) || RIO.BR ('''{{val|2478|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|2478|5388244|2}} of the total) || SAOGONCA.BR ('''{{val|3|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|3|5388244|4|nonscinote=y}} of the total)
|-
| Professions || '''{{val|94942|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|94942|5388244|2}}) || ADV.BR ('''{{val|49201|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|49201|5388244|2}} of the total) || ZLG.BR ('''{{val|6|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|6|5388244|4|nonscinote=y}} of the total)
|-
| Technology || '''{{val|40489|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|40489|5388244|2}}) || APP.BR ('''{{val|19655|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|19655|5388244|2}} of the total) || SEG.BR ('''{{val|2796|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|2796|5388244|2}} of the total)
|-
| Third Sector || '''{{val|57447|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|57447|5388244|2}}) || ORG.BR ('''{{val|53108|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|53108|5388244|2}} of the total) || COOP.BR ('''{{val|1447|fmt=commas}}''', or {{pct|1447|5388244|2}} of the total)
|}

The "Education" category also includes '''{{val|1207|fmt=commas}}''' ({{pct|1207|5388244|2}} of the total) custom second-level domains registered directly under .BR – for example, the [[National Observatory (Brazil)|National Observatory]] at ON.BR.

==See also==
* [[Internet in Brazil]]
* [[.rio]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/br.html IANA .br whois information]
* [http://www.registro.br Registro.br : Brazil's official registry administrator]
* [http://www.registro.br/estatisticas.html Second-level domain statistics] for .br
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180418044650/http://www.tepidmonkey.net/ TepidMonkey's archived website] (source of the font used in the logos, "Qhytsdakx")

{{ccTLD}}
{{Brazil topics}}
{{Americas topic|Internet in }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Br}}
[[Category:Communications in Brazil]]
[[Category:Country code top-level domains]]
[[Category:Internet in Brazil]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1989]]

[[sv:Toppdomän#B]]