Top-Level Domains (TLDs) are the names at the top of the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. They appear in domain names as the string of letters following the last dot, such as "NET" in www.example.net. GTLDs are TLDs that do not correspond to any country code. We invite you to consult this section of the ICANN website for case studies that tell the story of several TLDs, including their backgrounds and business objectives.
While individuals and organizations can register a domain name, the process of applying for a gTLD is much more complex. In fact, when you apply for a top-level domain, you are applying to operate an Internet registry business (a Registry Operator or RO) that supports the DNS.