History of the TLD

.wiki is a generic top-level domain created to serve wiki and collaborative content websites. It was proposed to ICANN under the New gTLD Program in 2012. The Registry Agreement was signed in November 2013, and the TLD was delegated to the DNS root zone in early 2014. General public registration began on May 26, 2014. The registry is currently managed by GoDaddy Registry.

Main Use and Industry Position

The .wiki TLD is primarily used for websites that function as wikis or collaborative knowledge platforms. It identifies sites focused on shared editing and community-curated content. Its position in the industry is as a niche TLD tailored to information sharing and collaborative projects, differentiating it from broader TLDs like .com or .org.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared with generic TLDs such as .com, .org, or .net, .wiki is purpose-specific, signalling collaborative or knowledge-sharing intent. Unlike broad TLDs, .wiki has branding value for communities building wikis. Compared to other niche TLDs like .info or .media, .wiki is more explicitly tied to editable content and community contributions.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Provides a clear indication that the website is a wiki or collaborative platform

• Open registration with no eligibility restrictions

• Supports DNSSEC for security

Cons

• Niche focus may limit broader commercial appeal

• Pricing can be higher than some more common TLDs

• Not as widely recognised or used as established TLDs like .com

Registration Criteria

.wiki has an open registration policy with no specific eligibility restrictions. Individuals, organisations, and entities may register .wiki domains on a first-come, first-served basis.

Summary

.wiki is a generic top-level domain launched in 2014 to provide a dedicated namespace for wiki and collaboratively edited websites. It is managed by GoDaddy Registry, supports open registration, and is positioned as a descriptive option for content sharing communities.