Read: Consider Website Types
A website’s domain extension (.com, .edu, etc.) can tell you a bit about a resource. However, there is no universal rule for whether a website’s domain extension makes it credible.
Different domains of websites include:
- .com
- Commercial (for-profit) websites
- .net
- Network- or company-related domains
- .org
- Non-profit organizations
- .edu
- Educational institutions
- .gov
- Government institutions
Reflect: The following images and their captions depict different websites. As you read the website URLS, notice the domains. What implications may that have for information you read on those websites?
Why Different Domains Matter
It’s important to not necessarily evaluate an online source simply based on its domain extension. As you navigate through different sources, examine the authors and the website’s other credentials before making assumptions simply by the domain extension. For example, .com, .org, and .net domain extensions can be purchased and used by anyone. However, the .edu domain extension is reserved only for educational institutions, and the .gov domain extension is only used by governmental institutions.
Determining a website’s credibility can be especially confusing for websites with a .org extension that appear to have a governmental or educational affiliation. For example, the website passportUSA.org appears to contain official instructions for applying for a passport online; however, it is simply a PDF editing site. Because of the .org domain extension, it appears more credible.
On the other hand, some well-known organizations use a .com domain extension. Both National Geographic and TED use the .com domain extension.