.example

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**.example**

Introduced	1999
TLD type	Reserved top-level domain
Status	Reserved to prevent actual use
Registry	IANA
Sponsoring organization	None
Intended use	Example addresses in documentation, designed to never match an address in real use on the Internet
Actual use	Sometimes used in intended manner, though writers haven't always read the applicable RFC so they sometimes use different (non-reserved) names instead, which can end up being somebody's real address
Registration restrictions	No registrations are possible, as this domain is not in the root
Structure	Writers of examples can use it in any desired structure; it doesn't really exist
Documents	RFC 2606
Dispute policies	None
Web site	None

.example is a reserved top-level domain not intended for real use in the global DNS. It was defined in June 1999 by RFC 2606, along with .invalid, .localhost, and .test.

The stated purpose for the creation of ".example" was to provide TLDs for examples in documentation and other technical writing, such that conflict with global DNS can be avoided. However, it has been criticised for not being "real enough", as it is longer than real TLDs: all existing TLDs except the relatively uncommon .museum and .travel have at most four characters.

[edit] See also

example.com
192.0.2.0/24 – IPv4 range reserved for documentation and example code by RFC 3330

v • d • e Generic top-level domains
Unsponsored	.biz .com .edu .gov .info .int .mil .name .net .org
Sponsored	.aero .cat .coop .jobs .mobi .museum .pro .travel
Infrastructure	.arpa .root
Startup phase	.asia .tel
Proposed	.berlin .bzh .cym .gal .geo .kid .kids .mail .nyc .post .sco .web .xxx
Deleted/retired	.nato
Reserved	.example .invalid .localhost .test
Pseudo-domains	.bitnet .csnet .local .onion .uucp
Unofficial	see Alternative DNS roots
See also: Country code top-level domains