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    • .how

    Generic top-level domainsIDNDNSSEC

    Overview

    .how is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) operated by Google (Charleston Road Registry Inc.) intended for how-to and instructional content. The gTLD provides a dedicated domain space signaling content about "in what manner or way" a task is executed and aims to organize and surface instructional resources.

    History

    • Applied for as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program (Reveal Day: 13 June 2012).
    • Applicant and Registry Operator: Google (Charleston Road Registry Inc.).
    • Registry Agreement with ICANN signed on 23 January 2014.
    • Delegated to the DNS Root Zone on 16 August 2014.

    Usage and Audience

    • Intended users: individuals, small businesses, enterprises, groups, and creators of instructional content.
    • Typical purposes: publishing "how-to" guides, tutorials, specialized advice, and task-oriented resources.
    • Example categories cited by the applicant:
      • Talents: playpiano.how
      • Sports: swim.how
      • Health & fitness: weightloss.how
      • Cooking: makedinner.how
      • Specialized advice: treatstain.how

    Registration Rules

    • The applicant stated the gTLD would remain totally open and unencumbered by registrant restrictions.
    • There are no restrictions on second-level domain name registrations (per the applicant's application).
    • Domain names are available to the general public and registrable through all ICANN-accredited registrars.

    SEO and Brand Impact

    • The .how string creates a direct association with instructional and how-to content, helping signal the type of content to users.
    • The applicant described the gTLD as enhancing consumer choice, creating new layers of organization on the Internet, and enabling registrants to position content by intent and topic.

    Notable Cases or Examples

    • Sample second-level domains provided in the application include: playpiano.how, swim.how, weightloss.how, makedinner.how, treatstain.how.

    Operator

    Charleston Road Registry Inc.

    Whois

    % IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       HOW

organisation: Charleston Road Registry Inc.
address:      1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
address:      Mountain View CA 94043
address:      United States of America (the)

contact:      administrative
name:         TLD Admin
organisation: Google Inc
address:      111 8th Avenue
address:      New York NY 10011
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1 404 978 8419
fax-no:       +1 650 492 5631
e-mail:       iana-contact@google.com

contact:      technical
name:         TLD Engineering
organisation: Google Inc
address:      76 Ninth Avenue, 4th Floor
address:      New York NY 10011
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1 404 978 8419
fax-no:       +1 650 492 5631
e-mail:       crr-tech@google.com

nserver:      NS-TLD1.CHARLESTONROADREGISTRY.COM 2001:4860:4802:32:0:0:0:69 216.239.32.105
nserver:      NS-TLD2.CHARLESTONROADREGISTRY.COM 2001:4860:4802:34:0:0:0:69 216.239.34.105
nserver:      NS-TLD3.CHARLESTONROADREGISTRY.COM 2001:4860:4802:36:0:0:0:69 216.239.36.105
nserver:      NS-TLD4.CHARLESTONROADREGISTRY.COM 2001:4860:4802:38:0:0:0:69 216.239.38.105
nserver:      NS-TLD5.CHARLESTONROADREGISTRY.COM 2001:4860:4805:0:0:0:0:69 216.239.60.105
ds-rdata:     58609 8 2 cf18dc0907a9d2f0d260c7c4a958ef62312bc64b2832002330a35dbc9ff59075

whois:        

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: https://www.registry.google

created:      2014-06-12
changed:      2025-04-11
source:       IANA

    Registrars