Originally posted by SteveK
Why is it that the United State's Country Code domain is considered a top level domain?!
All global, and country codes are TLD's the global ones are usually referred to as simply TLD, the Country codes are further clarified as ccTLD's.
A Top Level Domain is simply the domain ending after the last dot. For example: fourthlevel.thirdlevel.secondlevel.tld
There are basically three recognized classes of TLD's, Global, County Code, and Restricted. The TLD could be a two character county code like .us, .tv or .uk; a three or four character global TLD like .com, or .info; or a restricted TLD like .mil, .edu, aero or .museum that is reserved for government or member organizations.
Some county codes have commercialized to various extents such as .tv and .cc that have leased the names for total unrestricted commerical use. Some like .us and .uk are open to citizens or those with a connection to the country, and some are very restricted and kept solely for citizens or even only the government itself in some asian and european countries.