Example.com
Encyclopedia
Example.com, example.net, example.org, and example.edu are second-level
domain name
s reserved for documentation purposes and examples of the use of domain names.
The second level domain label example for the top-level domain
s com
, net
, and org
was reserved by the Internet Engineering Task Force
in RFC 2606, Section 3, while it was reserved for the edu
domain by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) since 2000.
By implementing the reservation, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
(IANA) made available domains to use in technical
and software documentation
, manuals and sample software configurations. Thus, documentation writers
can be sure to select a domain name without creating naming conflicts if end-users try to use the sample configurations or examples verbatim.
When an address such as username@example.com is used to demonstrate the sign-up process on a website, it indicates to the user they should fill in an actual e-mail address
at which they receive mail. Example.com is used in a generic and vendor-neutral manner.
These domain names resolve to Internet Protocol
(IP) addresses for IPv4
and IPv6
of a web server
managed by ICANN
.
The example domains have one subdomain name defined in the Domain Name System
. For each domain, the third-level domain name www resolves to the same IPv4 and IPv6 addresses as the parent domains.
Second-level domain
In the Domain Name System hierarchy, a second-level domain is a domain that is directly below a top-level domain . For example, in example.com, example is the second-level domain of the .com TLD....
domain name
Domain name
A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System ....
s reserved for documentation purposes and examples of the use of domain names.
The second level domain label example for the top-level domain
Top-level domain
A top-level domain is one of the domains at the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System of the Internet. The top-level domain names are installed in the root zone of the name space. For all domains in lower levels, it is the last part of the domain name, that is, the last label of a...
s com
.com
The domain name com is a generic top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. Its name is derived from commercial, indicating its original intended purpose for domains registered by commercial organizations...
, net
.net
The domain name net is a generic top-level domain used in the Domain Name System of the Internet. The name is derived from network, indicating its originally intended purpose for organizations involved in networking technologies, such as Internet service providers and other infrastructure companies...
, and org
.org
The domain name org is a generic top-level domain of the Domain Name System used in the Internet. The name is derived from organization....
was reserved by the Internet Engineering Task Force
Internet Engineering Task Force
The Internet Engineering Task Force develops and promotes Internet standards, cooperating closely with the W3C and ISO/IEC standards bodies and dealing in particular with standards of the TCP/IP and Internet protocol suite...
in RFC 2606, Section 3, while it was reserved for the edu
.edu
The domain name edu is a sponsored top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. The "domain is intended for accredited post-secondary educational U.S. institutions" and this intention is strictly enforced....
domain by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) since 2000.
By implementing the reservation, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority is the entity that oversees global IP address allocation, autonomous system number allocation, root zone management in the Domain Name System , media types, and other Internet Protocol-related symbols and numbers...
(IANA) made available domains to use in technical
Technical documentation
In engineering, technical documentation refers to any type of documentation that describes handling, functionality and architecture of a technical product or a product under development or use.Documentation may include:* patents...
and software documentation
Software documentation
Software documentation or source code documentation is written text that accompanies computer software. It either explains how it operates or how to use it, and may mean different things to people in different roles....
, manuals and sample software configurations. Thus, documentation writers
Technical writer
A technical writer is a professional writer who designs, creates, and maintains technical documentation...
can be sure to select a domain name without creating naming conflicts if end-users try to use the sample configurations or examples verbatim.
When an address such as username@example.com is used to demonstrate the sign-up process on a website, it indicates to the user they should fill in an actual e-mail address
E-mail address
An email address identifies an email box to which email messages are delivered. An example format of an email address is lewis@example.net which is read as lewis at example dot net...
at which they receive mail. Example.com is used in a generic and vendor-neutral manner.
These domain names resolve to Internet Protocol
Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol is the principal communications protocol used for relaying datagrams across an internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite...
(IP) addresses for IPv4
IPv4
Internet Protocol version 4 is the fourth revision in the development of the Internet Protocol and the first version of the protocol to be widely deployed. Together with IPv6, it is at the core of standards-based internetworking methods of the Internet...
and IPv6
IPv6
Internet Protocol version 6 is a version of the Internet Protocol . It is designed to succeed the Internet Protocol version 4...
of a web server
Web server
Web server can refer to either the hardware or the software that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet....
managed by ICANN
ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Marina del Rey, California, United States, that was created on September 18, 1998, and incorporated on September 30, 1998 to oversee a number of Internet-related tasks previously performed directly...
.
The example domains have one subdomain name defined in the Domain Name System
Domain name system
The Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...
. For each domain, the third-level domain name www resolves to the same IPv4 and IPv6 addresses as the parent domains.
See also
- .example.exampleThe name example is reserved by the Internet Engineering Task Force in RFC 2606 as a domain name that may not be installed as a top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet.-Reserved DNS names:...
Top-level domain name reserved for documentation purposes - .local.locallocal is a pseudo-top-level domain used in multicast domain name service of zero configuration networking discovery protocols.Apple's Bonjour implements mDNS, as does Avahi...
Pseudo-TLD with no meaning in the DNSDomain name systemThe Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...
for use with local zeroconf networking only - Fictitious domain name
- IPv4#Allocation – IPv4IPv4Internet Protocol version 4 is the fourth revision in the development of the Internet Protocol and the first version of the protocol to be widely deployed. Together with IPv6, it is at the core of standards-based internetworking methods of the Internet...
address ranges reserved for documentation and examples - Reserved top-level domains