What is .observer?
ICANN's records put the delegation of .observer on September 27, 2016. Like most of the newer endings, it was applied for in the 2012 New gTLD Program round and its registry agreement was signed on April 30, 2015.
Under the hood, the root zone points to 4 name servers for .observer, every one of them reachable over IPv6. The delegation is DNSSEC-signed, so resolvers can verify that answers for .observer haven't been tampered with on the way. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.observer).
.observer FAQ
What does .observer mean?
.observer is a generic top-level domain named for the word "observer", and it's aimed at media, news & content. It doesn't belong to any country.
What is .observer used for?
.observer is mostly used for media, news & content. Like most gTLDs, it's a label of intent rather than a guarantee — check the site, not just the ending.
What country is .observer?
None. .observer is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .observer domain extension?
Fegistry, LLC operates .observer as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .observer created?
.observer was delegated to the DNS root zone on September 27, 2016.
Is .observer a valid domain?
Yes. .observer is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2016, so .observer addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .observer domain?
.observer names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read Fegistry, LLC's policy if you're unsure.
Is .observer DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .observer.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed December 18, 2025. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
