The default ending
.com was one of the first top-level domains, created in January 1985 alongside .net, .org, .edu, .gov and .mil. The first .com name ever registered, symbolics.com, dates to March 15, 1985. Four decades later it is still the ending people assume when they hear a brand name out loud — which is exactly why it matters.
It's also by far the largest TLD, with well over a hundred million names registered. That scale has a downside: almost every short, pronounceable word is already taken, and many of the good ones sit in the aftermarket with a price tag.
Who runs it
Verisign operates the .com registry. Every registrar — the companies you actually buy from — pays Verisign a regulated wholesale fee per name per year and adds its own margin. That's why .com prices look similar everywhere for a standard registration, while renewals and "premium" aftermarket names vary wildly.
Should you still chase a .com?
Usually, yes — if the name is available and affordable. People type .com by reflex, and email addresses on .com are the least likely to bounce because someone "corrected" them. But a great name on .io, .co or a fitting new gTLD often beats a clumsy .com with extra words bolted on. Pick the name first, then the ending.
Good for
- Any business that wants the "default" address customers will guess
- Brands that expect word-of-mouth and radio or podcast mentions
- Email addresses people won't misspell
Watch out for
- Short, dictionary-word .com names are almost all taken or sold as premiums
- Typosquatters target popular .com names — register common misspellings if you're big
- Don't pay a broker before checking whether a newer TLD tells your story better
.com by the numbers
.com stands for "commercial". It's a generic top-level domain (gTLD), today used for business & professional. VeriSign, Inc. runs the registry under a contract with ICANN.
.com is one of the older generic TLDs: ICANN records its delegation as January 1, 1985, long before the 2012 expansion.
VeriSign, Inc. also runs 5 other TLDs, including .comsec, .name, .net, .verisign and .web.
On the technical side, .com is served by 13 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .com, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.verisign-grs.com).
Same registry, other endings
5 other TLDs share this operator.
.com vs other endings
.com FAQ
What does .com stand for?
Commercial. It was one of the original generic TLDs created in 1985, intended for commercial organizations, but it has been open to anyone for decades.
Who runs .com?
Verisign operates the .com registry. Its wholesale price is governed by its registry agreement with ICANN and a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
What is .com used for?
.com is mostly used for business & professional. Like most gTLDs, it's a label of intent rather than a guarantee — check the site, not just the ending.
What country is .com?
None. .com is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country, even though it started out mostly American.
Who owns the .com domain extension?
VeriSign, Inc. operates .com as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .com created?
.com was delegated to the DNS root zone on January 1, 1985.
Is .com a valid domain?
Yes. .com is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 1985, so .com addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .com domain?
.com names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read VeriSign, Inc.'s policy if you're unsure.
Is .com DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .com.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed October 21, 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
