A top-level domain, or TLD, refers to the last segment of a domain name. It follows immediately after domain names, like .com or .org.
Google has announced the .app TLD from Google Registry. Here, the company is allowing anyone to make their websites end with the TLD, three years after the company paid at least $25 million in an auction to acquire the top-level domain.
This .app TLD was a highly desired name for website makers, given that the TLD associates itself with apps. As Google describes it, "Even if you spend your days working in the world of mobile apps, you can still benefit from a home on the web."
"With a memorable .app domain name, it’s easy for people to find and learn more about your app. You can use your new domain as a landing page to share trustworthy download links, keep users up to date, and deep link to in-app content."
And not only that advantage that .app has.
Google claims that the TLD is the first that has a built-in HTTPS encryption by default. The protocol is required to connect to all .app websites, which should help protect websites against ad malware, tracking injection by ISPs, as well as safeguarding against spying on open WiFi networks.
This is possible because Google has added .app to the HSTS Preload list back in 2017. HSTS, or HTTP Strict Transport Security, is a mechanism that ensures a web browser only makes secure HTTPS connections.
Most websites are already using HTTPS encryption, which can be seen when accessing their websites and see that padlock icon on the address bar. So HTTPS is nothing new.
But with apps wanting to a website presence, .app could help tackle the 32 percent of the internet that's still not encrypted with HTTPS, according to numbers from Mozilla. So here, "it’s helping move the web to an HTTPS-everywhere future in a big way."
"We created the .app TLD specifically for apps and app developers, with added security to help you showcase your apps to the world," said Google.
Google opens early registration for the TLD starting on May 1 to May 8 as part of Google's Early Access Program, where, for an additional fee, people can secure their desired domains ahead of general availability.
After May 8, users can get their .app domains through their registrar of choice, just like other TLDs in the market.