Dotless Domains: A Rare Internet Oddity

Dotless domains are an unusual facet of the web—domains that consist solely of a top-level domain (TLD), allowing access like http://bd/ or https://uz/, with no second-level prefix (like "example"). While these aren't allowed on generic TLDs (gTLDs) per ICANN policies, some country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) continue to support them, creating unique cases on the modern internet.

What Exactly Are Dotless Domains?

A dotless domain is essentially a TLD that is configured with apex DNS records (A, AAAA, or MX), making it resolvable and usable in browsers or mail systems without needing an additional prefix.

Examples in the wild:

• http://bd/ — Bangladesh

• https://uz/ — Uzbekistan

• https://мон./ — Mongolia (in Cyrillic)

Why They Raise Eyebrows

Despite their novelty, dotless domains face strong opposition from organizations like ICANN and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB). The primary concerns are:

• Domain Confusion: Developers often use single-label domains (like test.local) in internal environments, which could clash with actual dotless domains.

• Email Issues: SMTP standards require at least a two-label domain name, making user@bd invalid and problematic for email systems.

• Security Vulnerabilities: Misconfigurations or malicious use can open the door to phishing, spoofing, and user confusion.

Why They Still Exist in Some Places

The global restrictions apply mainly to gTLDs, like .com or .org. But ccTLDs are managed by their respective governments or organizations, meaning they can set their own rules—and some choose to enable dotless access.

Notable Active Dotless ccTLDs:

• .bd (Bangladesh)

• .uz (Uzbekistan)

• .мон (Mongolia)

These are accessible directly in browsers under supportive DNS configurations, though not always reliably.

What Lies Ahead?

As new TLDs continue to emerge, ICANN maintains a strict no-dotless stance for security and consistency. However, the existence of dotless ccTLDs reflects regional autonomy in DNS governance and keeps the door open for experimentation—albeit cautiously.

Closing Thoughts

Dotless domains are a rare but real curiosity in internet infrastructure, offering a glimpse into the diverse ways DNS can be interpreted across jurisdictions. While they may never go mainstream, they highlight important conversations around DNS design, user safety, and internet standardization.

🚀 Ever tried visiting a dotless domain? It’s worth a look—just for the novelty.