The history of internet domain name top-level domains (TLDs) dates back to the early days of the internet. Here is an overview of the key milestones in the evolution of TLDs:

1. Original TLDs: In 1985, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) introduced the first set of generic top-level domains (gTLDs). These included:
   • .com: Short for “commercial,” intended for commercial entities.
   • .net: Originally intended for network infrastructure organizations, but later expanded to include various types of entities.
   • .org: Designed for non-profit organizations.
   • .gov: Reserved for U.S. government agencies.
   • .edu: Restricted to accredited educational institutions.
   • .mil: Exclusive to the U.S. military.
2. Early Expansions: In the early 1990s, a few new gTLDs were introduced:
   • .int: Reserved for international treaty-based organizations.
   • .arpa: Initially used for technical infrastructure purposes, such as reverse mapping of IP addresses. It is no longer open for public registrations.
3. Country-Code TLDs (ccTLDs): In 1985, IANA also introduced two-letter country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) to represent specific countries and territories. Examples include .us (United States), .uk (United Kingdom), .ca (Canada), and .de (Germany). Each country manages its ccTLD independently.
4. Additional gTLDs: In the late 1990s and early 2000s, more gTLDs were introduced to meet the growing demand for domain names. Some examples include:
   • .biz: Intended for businesses.
   • .info: Open for general use, providing information.
   • .name: Designed for personal websites.
   • .museum: Reserved for museums and related organizations.
5. New gTLD Expansions: Starting in 2013, ICANN initiated a series of new gTLD expansions to increase the variety and availability of domain names. This allowed for the introduction of hundreds of new domain extensions, including both generic terms and branded extensions. Some examples are:
   • .shop, .club, .online: Generic terms used to indicate the nature of websites.
   • .google, .apple, .amazon: Branded extensions for specific companies.

These new gTLD expansions aimed to promote innovation, enhance online branding, and provide more options for domain name registration.

ICANN continues to oversee the management and expansion of TLDs, periodically opening application rounds for new gTLDs. The domain name industry has witnessed significant growth and diversity in TLDs, allowing individuals, businesses, and organizations to choose domain names that align with their specific purposes and branding strategies.