What is .help?
.help entered the DNS root zone on August 16, 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, .help is served by 4 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .help, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.help).
.help FAQ
What does .help mean?
.help is a generic top-level domain named for the word "help". It doesn't belong to any country.
What country is .help?
None. .help is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .help domain extension?
Innovation service Limited operates .help as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .help created?
.help was delegated to the DNS root zone on August 16, 2014.
Is .help a valid domain?
Yes. .help is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2014, so .help addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .help domain?
.help names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read Innovation service Limited's policy if you're unsure.
Is .help DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .help.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed January 4, 2024. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
