History of the TLD

The .bar top‑level domain (TLD) is a generic TLD introduced as part of ICANN’s new gTLD program. The registry operator Punto 2012 Sociedad Anonima Promotora de Inversion de Capital Variable signed a Registry Agreement with ICANN in 2013. .bar was delegated into the DNS Root Zone on 27 February 2014 and became available for public registration later that year following standard sunrise and landrush phases before general availability in mid‑2014. The string was also recognised by ICANN’s Geographic Names Panel in connection with the city of Bar in Montenegro, and the registry reached arrangements with the municipality for usage rights. 

Main Use and Industry Position

.bar is positioned as an industry‑specific generic TLD tailored to establishments and services in the hospitality and nightlife sectors, especially bars, pubs, nightclubs and related businesses such as restaurant guides and beverage brands. It has global availability with no substantial geographic restrictions, making it suitable for worldwide use by relevant businesses and projects.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Unlike legacy extensions such as .com and .net that serve broad general purposes, .bar is niche‑oriented to a specific industry. It differs from country code TLDs (ccTLDs) such as .me or .au, which relate to geographical territories. Compared to other industry‑themed gTLDs (such as .restaurant or .coffee), .bar communicates a narrower hospitality focus, which can aid branding for nightlife venues but limits broad commercial use outside that sector. 

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Clear semantic relevance for bars, pubs and nightlife related businesses enhancing branding clarity

• Global registration without local presence requirements

• Supports IDN characters for broader linguistic use

Cons

• Narrow thematic scope may limit flexibility for other types of businesses

• Often higher registration costs compared to generic extensions

• Possible audience perception as less formal compared to traditional TLDs

Registration Criteria

.bar domains are available for registration globally on a first‑come, first‑served basis with no special eligibility restrictions beyond standard domain policies. Trademark sunrise periods historically protected marks at launch. Domain names must conform to character rules (letters, numbers, hyphens, no special symbols). 

Summary

The .bar TLD serves as a sector‑specific generic top‑level domain aimed at hospitality venues and related services. Delegated in 2014, it offers a recognisable namespace for businesses to reinforce brand identity online. Its thematic focus differentiates it from broader generic and country code TLDs, though its niche appeal may limit utility outside hospitality and social venues. Support for DNSSEC and IDN extends its technical robustness for diverse registrants.