View source for .net

{{Short description|Internet top-level domain}}
{{about|the top-level domain|the software framework|.NET|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox Top level domain
|name=.net
|image = DotNet logo.svg
|introduced={{start date and age|df=yes|1985|1|1}}
|type=[[Generic top-level domain]]
|status=Active
|registry=[[Verisign]]
|sponsor=None
|intendeduse=Network infrastructure
|actualuse=[[ISPs]]; miscellaneous sites; used sometimes when desired name is not available in [[.com]]
|restrictions=None
|structure=Registrations at second level permitted
|document={{IETF RFC|1591}}; [http://www.icann.org/tlds/agreements/net/net-registry-agreement-01jul05.pdf ICANN registry agreement]
|disputepolicy=[[UDRP]]
|website={{url|https://yourdot.net}}
|dnssec=Yes
}}

The [[domain name]] '''net''' is a [[generic top-level domain]] (gTLD) used in the [[Domain Name System]] of the [[Internet]]. The name is derived from the word ''network'', indicating it was originally intended for organizations involved in networking technologies, such as [[Internet service provider]]s and other [[infrastructure]] companies. However, there are no official restrictions and the domain is now a general-purpose namespace. 

==History==
{{mono|.net}} is one of the original top-level domains<ref>{{Cite IETF |title=Domain Requirements |rfc=920 |first1=J. | last1=Postel |first2=J. |last2=Reynolds| date=October 1984 }}</ref> (the other six being {{mono|[[.com|com]]}}, {{mono|[[.org|org]]}}, {{mono|[[.edu|edu]]}}, {{mono|[[.gov|gov]]}}, {{mono|[[.mil|mil]]}}, and {{mono|[[.arpa|arpa]]}}) despite not being mentioned in RFC 920, having been created in January 1985.

[[Verisign]], the operator of {{mono|net}} after acquiring [[Network Solutions]], held an operations contract that expired on 30 June 2005. [[ICANN]], the organization responsible for domain management, sought proposals from organizations to operate the domain upon expiration of the contract. Verisign regained the contract bid and secured its control over the {{mono|net}} registry for another six years.
On 30 June 2011, the contract with Verisign was automatically renewed for another six years. This is because of a resolution approved by the ICANN board, which states that renewal will be automatic as long as Verisign meets certain ICANN requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedomains.com/2011/06/23/icann-approves-the-renewal-of-net-contract-with-verisign|title=.net Contract Renewed|date=24 June 2011 }}</ref> As of May 2022, Verisign continues to manage .net.<ref>{{cite web|title=.net Domains Search on Verisign|url=https://www.verisign.com/en_US/domain-names/net-domain-names/index.xhtml|url-status=live|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=Verisign|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213191255/http://www.verisign.com:80/en_US/domain-names/net-domain-names/index.xhtml |archive-date=13 December 2015 }}</ref>

==Registration==
Registrations are processed via accredited [[Domain name registrar|registrars]] and [[internationalized domain name]]s are also accepted.<ref>[http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/products-and-services/domain-name-services/registry-services/idn-domain-names/index.xhtml How Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) Work], verisigninc.com</ref>

The first created .net domain name is nordu.net. It was created on 1 January 1985 according to the public records, and [[NORDUnet]] has used this domain name since 1985.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nordhagen |first=Rolf |date=2005 |editor-last=Bubenko |editor-first=Janis |editor2-last=Impagliazzo |editor2-first=John |editor3-last=Sølvberg |editor3-first=Arne |title=Nordunet: The Roots of Nordic Networking |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/0-387-24168-X_35 |journal=History of Nordic Computing |language=en |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Springer US |pages=391–404 |doi=10.1007/0-387-24168-X_35 |isbn=978-0-387-24168-5|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Total registered domain names with net extension are 13.0 million as of Q2 2024.

As of 2024, it is the fourth most popular top-level domain, after {{mono|[[.com]]}},{{mono|[[.de]]}} and {{mono|[[.cn]]}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Verisign: The Domain Name Industry Brief April 2022 |url=https://dnib.com/media/downloads/reports/pdfs/2021/domain-name-report-Q42021.pdf |access-date=21 May 2024}}</ref> The .net domain rose from fifth to fourth place as a result of the [[.tk]] domain ceasing to accept registrations.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/products-and-services/domain-name-services/find-registrar/index.xhtml List of {{mono|net}} accredited registrars]
{{Generic top-level domains}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:NET}}
[[Category:Generic top-level domains]]
[[Category:Council of European National Top Level Domain Registries members]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1985]]