CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What does the ".com" in the address www.shop.example.com represent?

1. Subdomain

2. Second-level domain name

3. Top-level domain

4. Hostname

The correct answer is: Top-level domain

The ".com" in the address www.shop.example.com is classified as the top-level domain (TLD). In the Domain Name System (DNS), the TLD is the part of the domain name that follows the final dot. It signifies the highest level in the hierarchical domain structure and is often associated with the type of organization or the geographic area of the domain. Top-level domains can be categorized into different types, such as generic TLDs (like ".com", ".org", ".net") and country code TLDs (like ".uk", ".jp"). The ".com" TLD, in particular, is used primarily for commercial purposes but has become widely popular for various types of websites. While a subdomain (like "www" or "shop" in this case) and second-level domain (like "example") also contribute to the full domain name structure, they are situated below the top-level domain in the hierarchy. The hostname typically refers to a full address that might include both the subdomain and the domain (like "www.shop.example.com"). Thus, the role of ".com" as the designated top-level domain is clear in this context.