Domain Name

The domain name is the part of the URL that is easiest to recognize. 

Look at the domain name "www.gcflearnfree.org"

Each part of the domain name gives you more information.  

•  www means World Wide Web

• gcflearnfree is the name of the company that owns the website

• .org means the site is owned by an organization

Some common domain name suffixes (also called Top Level Domains -TLD) include

• .org  (an organization website)

• .gov  (an American government website)

• .ca (a Canadian website)

• .com (a commercial website)

• .edu (an American university or college)

• .uk (a United Kingdom website)

• .net (a generic website)

• .gc.ca (a Government of Canada website)

• .canada.ca is now more common

• .on.ca (an Ontario, Canada government website)

When you understand how a web address works, www.mcss.gov.on.ca  can be read like a regular mailing address: "Ministry of Community and Social Services, Government of Ontario, Canada."  This can help you decide if a website is safe before you start clicking on links.