The term “.IO” may have surfaced in your internet exploits, particularly in relation to a plethora of new, trending web startups and online games. These two simple letters have become something of a phenomenon in the world of domain names, and this article aims to break down and explain what .IO actually means.
The Origin of .IO
.IO is an internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) that is assigned to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Similar to how .us pertains to the United States or .uk refers to the United Kingdom, .io historically and technically denoted geographical region of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Popularity rise of .IO
Despite its mapping to this specific geographic location, the .IO domain extension has become immensely popular among tech companies, startups, and online gaming platforms. But how did this come to be?
Primarily, .IO domains started to gain popularity within the tech industry due to the ‘I/O’ being a common abbreviation for ‘Input/Output’, a fundamental concept in the field of computer science and electronics.
The Appeal of .IO
To understand the current popularity of the .IO extension, it’s important to consider the domain landscape. In the highly congested .com domain space, finding a simple, memorable and relevant domain name can be a challenging task. With the less crowded .IO space, startups have a wider selection of domain names to choose from.
Beyond availability, .IO carries a certain cachet within tech and gaming communities. It’s seen as modern, trendy, and tech-forward. For many startups, it has become a way to signal that a company is on the cutting edge, particularly in the digital, tech, or gaming arenas.
Impact on SEO
Regarding SEO (Search Engine Optimization), Google treats .IO as a gccTLD (generic country code top level domain). This means that by default, it doesn’t have any automatic association with the British Indian Ocean Territory. It is instead considered generic, and hence relevant and searchable in geographic areas globally – making it a good choice for businesses that operate internationally.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the .IO domain, despite its roots in the British Indian Ocean Territory, has been largely adopted by the tech and gaming industries due to its relevance (‘input/output’), availability of names, and its trendy reputation. It’s accepted and treated globally by Google’s algorithm, making it a viable choice for businesses operating internationally, especially in the tech and digital arenas.