.net Domain

What is the .net Domain Extension? A Legacy of the Internet’s Early Days

When you think of classic internet domains, .com probably comes to mind first. But right alongside it, and equally rich in history, is .net — one of the internet’s original top-level domains (TLDs). Though often viewed as the “runner-up” to .com, the .net extension still carries a legacy of trust, professionalism, and tech credibility.

Let’s dive into what makes the .net TLD special, why it was created, and whether it’s still a good choice in today’s domain name landscape.

The Origins of .net

Short for “network,” the .net domain was introduced in 1985 by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It was originally intended for network-focused organizations, like:

• Internet service providers (ISPs)
  
  

• Web hosting companies
  
  

• Email service providers
  
  

• Infrastructure firms
  
  

Its purpose was to serve as a digital home for those building and maintaining the very fabric of the internet — think routers, servers, and all the connections in between.

Who Can Use .net Today?

While .net started out as a namespace for internet infrastructure companies, it has long since opened up to everyone. Anyone — individual, business, or organization — can register a .net domain, making it one of the most flexible and widely adopted legacy extensions.

You’ll commonly see .net domains used by:

• Tech startups
  
  

• Web developers
  
  

• SaaS companies
  
  

• Freelancers in IT and networking
  
  

• Digital agencies
  
  

The First Domain Name Ever? Yep, It Was a .net

Here’s a cool fact: the first domain name ever created wasn’t a .com—it was a .net.

The domain nordu.net was the first domain name ever registered, used by the Nordic Infrastructure for Research and Education in the early days of the internet. While .com would go on to dominate, .net was literally the first domino to fall in what would become the domain name revolution.

.net as the Original .com Alternative

For a long time, .net was considered the #2 alternative to .com. If your perfect .com domain wasn’t available, grabbing the .net was often seen as the next best option, and many businesses did exactly that.

This created a strong reputation for .net as a professional, trustworthy extension, especially within the tech and digital infrastructure space.

The Rise of Competition: .tech, .app, .io and Beyond

However, with the introduction of hundreds of new domain extensions, .net’s status as the go-to alternative to .com has been challenged.

Some notable challengers include:

• .io – a favorite in tech and startup communities
  
  

• .co – short, snappy, and embraced by modern brands
  
  

• .ai – increasingly popular among artificial intelligence ventures
  
  

• .tech, .dev, .app – domain extensions with targeted appeal and built-in security (especially Google Registry TLDs)
  
  

While .net has lost some ground in terms of modern brand appeal, it still retains strong recognition and credibility, particularly among those who value legacy, trust, and industry roots.

Should You Choose a .net Domain?

Here’s when a .net domain might make sense for you:

✅ Your business relates to networking, infrastructure, or digital services
✅ Your preferred .com domain is unavailable, but you still want a recognizable, professional extension
✅ You want to convey established credibility or build a long-term digital presence
✅ You’re creating a technical resource, developer tool, or SaaS platform

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something trendier, shorter, or more niche-specific (like .ai for AI startups or .app for mobile products), a newer TLD might be a better fit.

The .net Extension is Still Going Strong

The .net TLD may not be the flashiest domain extension anymore, but it continues to stand tall as one of the pillars of the internet’s early architecture. For those in tech and tech related industries, it still holds real meaning and value.

Whether you're building the next Nordu.net or launching a modern SaaS business, a .net domain can still say:

“We know what we’re doing—and we’ve been here since the beginning.”