History of the TLD

.black is a generic top‑level domain (gTLD) introduced as part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program. It was delegated into the DNS Root Zone in March 2014 following approval and a registry agreement. The extension was created to provide a thematic naming space associated with the word and concept “black” and was positioned to appeal to creative, cultural, lifestyle, fashion and brand uses. The registry is operated by Identity Digital Limited. 

Main Use and Industry Position

.black serves as an alternative to legacy extensions such as .com or .net and is intended for individuals, brands and organisations that want to emphasise creative, aesthetic or thematic identity tied to the concept or colour black. It is used by fashion labels, artists, lifestyle brands, designers, nightlife venues and other entities seeking a memorable and distinctive web address. 

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared to traditional extensions such as .com or .org, .black is a thematic gTLD with lower overall awareness but stronger branding potential for specific niches. It differs from broader generic domains by focusing on a conceptual theme rather than a general purpose category. Unlike restricted or geographic TLDs (like .gov or .au), .black is open and available for general registration without special local or organisational requirements. 

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Strong branding potential for creative, fashion, aesthetic or theme‑oriented projects

• Available to any registrant on a first‑come, first‑served basis

• Supports standard DNS features for reliable internet presence

Cons

• Less widely recognised than legacy TLDs like .com or .net

• Limited to conceptual/brand use cases rather than broad commercial categorisation

• May carry higher registration costs than some other gTLDs depending on registrar pricing

Registration Criteria

Registrations are open to the general public on a first‑come, first‑served basis without restrictive eligibility requirements. Domain names must meet basic syntax rules (1 to 63 characters, letters, numbers and hyphens with standard naming constraints).

Summary

.black is a thematic generic top‑level domain launched in 2014 and managed by Identity Digital Limited. It provides a distinctive namespace for branding and creative purposes with open registration. While not as universally recognised as long‑established extensions, it offers strong identity potential for fashion, art and culture‑oriented sites and projects.