History of the TLD

The .parts top‑level domain is a generic top‑level domain (gTLD) that was introduced in 2014 as part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program. It was created to serve businesses and individuals involved in the sale, distribution, manufacturing, and services related to parts and components. Its registry is operated by Donuts (Identity Digital), and the backend registry provider is Demand Media.

Main Use and Industry Position

The .parts extension is primarily used by businesses that sell, service, or deal in parts of all types, including automotive parts suppliers, machinery components vendors, electronics and computer hardware parts retailers, and other component-focused enterprises. It clearly communicates specialization in parts and related offerings, helping with branding and industry recognition.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared with traditional TLDs like .com or .net, .parts is a niche, industry-specific extension that provides context about the type of business or site content. It is similar to other industry-focused TLDs such as .store and .shop, which also aim to convey specific business domains. It has lower overall recognition and adoption than mainstream TLDs.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Provides industry-specific branding for parts and components businesses

• Supports clear communication of business focus in the URL

• Open registration with minimal eligibility requirements

Cons

• Less widely recognised than traditional TLDs such as .com

• Smaller adoption base may affect perceived authority

• May be less intuitive for general audiences unfamiliar with industry-specific domains
  
  

Registration Criteria

Registration for a .parts domain is open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis with no special restrictions or eligibility requirements. Domain names must follow standard character and syntax rules, including use of letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (with restrictions on hyphen positions).

Summary

.parts is a generic top-level domain introduced in 2014 to provide a dedicated namespace for parts, components, and associated services. Managed by Donuts (Identity Digital) with Demand Media as the backend provider, it is open for public registration and supports internationalised domain names. The extension offers industry clarity but currently has a more specialised reach compared with legacy TLDs.