What Is the IANA Root Zone Database?
· Reference · IANA
Quick answer
What is the IANA Root Zone Database?
The IANA Root Zone Database is the authoritative public record of top-level domains delegated in the DNS root zone, maintained by IANA. It tells you that a TLD exists, who manages it and which name servers serve it — but it does not contain retail prices, registration rules for individual registrars, or domain availability.
What the database actually records
The root zone is the top of the DNS hierarchy. A delegation in it is what makes an extension resolvable worldwide. IANA publishes each delegated TLD with its manager and the technical delegation data, plus a plain-text list of delegated names that machines can consume.
TLD List builds its catalogue from that data. Every extension shown here is checked against the synced IANA dataset before it is displayed as verified, and the site shows when the catalogue was last synced.
What it does not tell you
This is where a lot of confusion starts. The root zone database is a technical delegation record, not a shopping catalogue.
- No prices: registrars set retail prices independently, and those are collected separately.
- No availability: whether a specific second-level name is free is a registry/registrar question.
- No eligibility policy detail: some ccTLDs and sponsored TLDs restrict who may register.
- No renewal terms, refund rules or transfer conditions.
How to use it as a buyer
Use the root zone database as a reality check before paying for anything unusual. If an extension is not delegated, it is not a normal public TLD. Then use a price comparison for cost and the registrar’s own terms for everything else.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IANA Root Zone Database the same as a WHOIS database?
No. The root zone database lists delegated TLDs and their managers. Registration data for individual domain names is queried separately through RDAP, which replaced the WHOIS protocol for gTLD registration data.
Does appearing in the root zone mean I can register that TLD?
Not necessarily. Delegation is a technical fact; registration eligibility is a policy question set by the registry. Some TLDs are restricted to a community, an organisation type or residents of a country.
How often does TLD List sync its catalogue?
The synced dataset carries its own generation timestamp, shown on the homepage and documented on the data sources page. The date displayed is the dataset date, not the page build date.
Sources
Primary sources for the claims above.