History of the TLD

The .tattoo domain is a generic top level domain introduced as part of ICANN’s New gTLD program and delegated into the DNS root zone in 2013. It was originally applied for and operated by Uniregistry and is now managed under GoDaddy Registry. The extension was created to provide tattoo artists, parlours, and tattoo-related businesses a specific namespace on the internet.

Main Use and Industry Position

.tattoo serves the tattoo and body art industry by offering a niche domain extension that signals relevance to tattooing art, services, portfolios, and community content. It is positioned as a specialised alternative to generic domains like .com or .net for businesses and individuals focused on tattoos and body modification culture.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared to generic extensions like .com or .net, .tattoo targets a specific audience and niche, similar to extensions like .ink that also serve artists and creative professions. It offers branding benefits for tattoo professionals but has narrower recognition outside the niche. General-purpose TLDs tend to have broader appeal and often lower cost.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Strong niche branding for tattoo industry use

• Open registration with no special criteria

• WHOIS privacy support available

Cons

• Higher cost relative to common TLDs like .com or .net

• Less mainstream recognition outside tattoo community

• Limited use cases beyond niche marketing
  
  

Registration Criteria

The .tattoo extension is open to all registrants worldwide without specific restrictions. Domains must meet standard character length rules and follow ICANN requirements for generic TLDs.

Summary

.tattoo is a specialised generic top level domain aimed at the tattoo and body art sector. It offers targeted branding and supports standard domain features like WHOIS privacy. It is publicly available for registration by anyone. Costs tend to be above average due to its niche positioning.