What io means? - 33rd Square

The .io domain extension has become incredibly popular in recent years, especially among tech startups and cryptocurrency projects. But what exactly does .io stand for and why is it used so widely? This comprehensive guide breaks down the meaning of .io, how it is commonly used, the benefits and drawbacks, and more.

What is .io?

.io is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) assigned to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Despite .io being a country-specific domain, it has become widely used as a generic top-level domain, especially in the technology and cryptocurrency spaces.

The .io domain is managed and operated commercially by London-based company Afilias. They market .io as the domain extension for "innovation and optimism."

Some key facts about .io:

The sponsoring organization and registry is the Internet Computer Bureau (ICB).
The .io domain was originally delegated in 1997.
Registration is open to anyone worldwide.
There are no specific restrictions on who can register .io domains.
Over 280,000 .io domains have been registered.
Popular registrars include Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Porkbun.

What does .io stand for?

The letters i and o stand for "input/output." I/O is commonly used in computing and technology to refer to input/output communication between computer systems, hardware, devices and more.

Input refers to data or commands entered into a computer system, while output refers to data sent out from the system. Some examples of input/output include:

A user typing on a keyboard (input) and text appearing on the screen (output).
A camera capturing an image (input) and saving the photo file to memory (output).
A microphone recording audio (input) and speakers playing the sound (output).

So in the world of tech and computing, .io evokes this notion of input and output communication.

Why is .io popular?

Although .io is a country-specific domain for a remote set of islands in the Indian Ocean, it has become popular worldwide for several key reasons:

Tech and startup appeal

The techie meaning of "input/output" described above gives .io a natural appeal to technology companies and startups. .io domains come across as modern, innovative and aligned with the tech world.

Short and memorable

The short two-letter .io extension creates sites and brands that are easily memorable. For example, Medium‘s blog platform is found at medium.io.

Global availability

.io domains can be registered by anyone globally, unlike some country-specific TLDs. This makes .io universally accessible.

Unique identity

.io sites stand out from the crowded .com space, giving sites and brands a unique identity.

How is .io commonly used?

While .io can be used by anyone, it has become particularly popular in certain niches:

Tech startups

From productivity apps to developer tools, .io is widely adopted by tech startups like Drift, Linear, and BrowserStack. It aligns with their innovative ethos.

Open source projects

Open source initiatives like Dokku, a Docker platform, use .io to convey their open, collaborative nature.

Cryptocurrency

Many crypto exchanges, wallets, NFT platforms and blockchain tools use .io like Chainlink, Audius and Unstoppable Domains. The decentralised aspect of crypto aligns with .io‘s independent identity.

Gaming

Agario, Slither.io and other viral web games use .io to jump on the trendy domain extension.

Blogs/publications

Medium‘s long-form blog platform medium.io helped popularise .io for writing and journalism. Other indie blogs and publications have followed suit.

Personal websites

Developers, designers and creators are using .io for personal portfolios and sites to express their tech-savviness.

International sites

Startups based outside the US often choose .io over their own country code to get a global identity. For example, Spanish company Typeform uses typeform.io.

Benefits of .io domains

Choosing the .io domain extension comes with several advantages:

Memorable and recognizable: The short .io extension creates an easy to remember brand.
Tech-focused: It conveys a cutting-edge, innovative identity appealing to tech audiences.
Global reach: .io sites are not geographically restrictive.
Unique: Helps your brand stand out from the crowded .com space.
Versatile: Can be used by companies and projects in any industry, not just tech.
International: Appeals to an international audience beyond US/UK sites.
SEO benefits: .io is seen as an alternative TLD like .app or .dev with growing popularity.

Drawbacks of .io domains

Some potential downsides to watch out for with .io sites:

Confusing meaning: Some users may not know .io stands for input/output and find it cryptic.
Obscure location: May seem odd for non-tech sites to use the domain for a remote island territory.
Availability: Popular or short .io domains can be taken already.
Cost: .io domains are typically more expensive than .com or other extensions.
Misspellings: The unusual .io TLD leads to more misspellings.
Restrictions: Afilias maintains rules and restrictions on how .io domains can be used.

Is .io a good domain?

For most tech startups, open source projects, developers and other technical use cases, .io is an excellent domain that comes highly recommended.

The tech meanings of .io and its wide adoption in the startup/crypto world make it a fitting choice that will resonate with your audience. Standing out from .com is also a bonus.

However, non-tech businesses and blogs may be better suited to a .com or their national TLD. .io has weaker brand recognition among the general public.

So consider your target audience – if they are primarily technical, .io is ideal. Otherwise, .io may not relay enough meaning to warrant the higher costs.

Should I use .io or .com?

For most new businesses and sites targeting a broad audience, .com remains the standard go-to domain given its dominance and familiarity.

However, using .io over .com offers the benefits of a unique identity, tech/startup appeal and wider availability of short domains.

If your .com domain is already taken, switching to .io can be a smart alternative. You can even use both by purchasing yourname.com and yourname.io to cover your bases.

Here are some quick comparisons between .com and .io:

.com	.io
Cost	Cheaper on average
Availability	Mostly taken
Meaning	None, generic
Usage	Dominant business domain
Branding	Conservative
SEO Value	Very high

Do you need .io?

Here are some key questions to ask when deciding if your brand or site needs a .io domain:

Is your product or service tech related? If yes, .io is a natural fit.
Is your target audience developers, startups or crypto followers? Again .io will appeal here.
Do you want a short, memorable domain name? .io offers more options.
Do you want to stand out from .com competitors? .io gives you a distinct identity.
Is your ideal .com domain taken? .io makes a great plan B domain.
Are you an international startup? .io works globally.

If you answered yes to some of these questions, .io is likely a good option. It aligns with the tech/startup space remarkably well.

Popular .io sites

Here are some of the most popular and highly-trafficked sites using the .io domain:

Medium – The popular longform blogging platform helped ignite the .io trend.
Github – The development platform uses github.io for hosting project pages.
Google – Google uses google.io for developer documentation and events.
Trello – The task management app trello.io focuses on productivity.
Stripe – Payment processor Stripe uses stripe.io for API documentation.
Codepen – The coding playground sticks to its tech roots with codepen.io.
Dev.to – The social network for developers goes with dev.io for its blog.
Unstoppable Domains – A crypto domain provider using unstoppabledomains.io.
Webflow – The web design tool webflow.io needed a short available domain.

These top sites showcase the diversity of popular .io uses today, from blogs to ecommerce platforms.

Is .io good for SEO?

When .io first emerged, some assumed search engines like Google would treat these domains as low-quality or spam. However, the opposite has proven true.

Google has come to recognize .io as a legitimate alternative domain on par with other new TLDs like .app, .dev, etc. The growing popularity of .io also adds credibility.

As a result, .io sites generally enjoy solid SEO value and authority these days. Using .io over your national TLD will not hurt organic traffic. .io is especially helpful for international startups wanting to rank globally.

There are a few best practices for optimizing .io sites:

Choose a keyword-rich name like app.io or games.io.
Publish high-quality content to build domain authority.
Ensure technical SEO like site speed are well-optimized.
Build links from relevant websites to improve ranking.

Follow these tips and your .io site can absolutely rank for valuable search terms and drive organic growth.

How much do .io domains cost?

.io domain prices can vary quite a bit depending on factors like:

Domain length – shorter domains command higher prices.
Keyword value – domains with popular keywords are more expensive.
Popularity – demand drives up the cost of hot .io domains.

On average .io domains tend to cost between $15-$45 per year for a standard registration. Here are some sample .io pricing points:

Short one word .io domain – $500+
Keyword rich domain – $100+
Standard 7-10 character .io – $15-$30
Premium geo/category .io – $40-$100

These prices are of course much higher than a standard .com registration which is usually $10-15 per year. But the benefits of a short, memorable .io domain often make the extra cost worthwhile.

Where to register .io domains

.io domains can be purchased through most major domain registrars and web hosts including:

Namecheap – Top registrar with affordable .io pricing.
GoDaddy – World‘s largest registrar sells .io domains.
Namesilo – Budget friendly domain provider offering .io.
Porkbun – Quirky retailer with competitive .io prices.
Hostinger – Web host that bundles free .io domains.
Bluehost – Popular web hosting platform includes .io.
Afilias – The .io registry also lets you buy domains directly.

I recommend comparing prices across a few of these leading registrars to find the best deal. Also look for new domain sales and promotions which can drop the .io cost.

Should I get a .io email address?

Using a custom email @yourdomain.io allows you to match your .io brand and reinforce it. However, some users still distrust unfamiliar TLDs for email.

Potential issues with .io email include:

Spam filters more likely to block non .com emails.
Emails perceived as less professional by some.
Requires extra setup like configuring SPF/DKIM.

Solution? Use your .io for the website domain but pair it with a professional .com email address from Gmail or Office 365. This gives you the best of both worlds.

For example, yoursite.io website with [email protected] email.

Is .io a safe domain?

Safety and security is a top concern when choosing a domain extension. The good news is .io scores highly here:

ICANN accredited – .io is fully approved and audited by ICANN, the industry‘s governing body. This ensures technical standards and security practices are upheld.
Secure infrastructure – Afilias invests heavily in server security, DDoS protection, and disaster recovery for .io domains.
Supports HTTPS – .io allows activating SSL certificates to enable HTTPS security on your site. This encrypts connections.
Registrar protections – Choose an established registrar like Namecheap for extra domain locking, privacy, and redundancy.
Trademark protection – .io domains follow ICANN domain dispute resolution policies to protect trademark holders.

So while no domain is 100% immune from cyber attacks, .io offers all the standard security protections you‘d expect from a reputable top-level domain.

Is .io better than .com?

There is no definitive "better" domain between .com and .io – it depends completely on your specific brand and needs.

.com remains the most widely used and recognized domain extension. But .io provides uniqueness and often better availability that .com lacks.

Here‘s a quick rundown of how they compare:

.com

Universally known
Considered more "professional"
Not memorable or distinctive
Mostly unavailable
Great SEO strength
Inexpensive

.io

Trendy, youthful appeal
Aligns with tech/startups
Cool, short memorability
Good availability still
Growing in SEO value
Higher cost than .com

Look at these key differences and decide if your brand is better served by traditional .com or modern .io – there are solid cases to be made for both.

Is .io better than .tech?

The .tech top-level domain is another popular option in the tech space. But .io has a few advantages over .tech in most cases:

Broader appeal – .io works for any industry, not just tech companies.
Shorter – Two letters is more memorable than four or five.
Cooler vibe – .io aligns with startups and innovation. .tech feels more corporate.
More established – .io uptake is years ahead of new domains like .tech.
Higher SEO value – Google sees .io as more legitimate at this point.

Unless you want to strongly signal you are a "tech" brand, .io tends to be the smarter choice over niche domains like .tech or .app. The broader applicability and adoption of .io give it an edge.

.io domain alternatives

While .io is a great option, here are a few other domain extensions worth considering:

Regional TLDs

Your own country TLD can also convey regional identity:

.co – Colombia
.ca – Canada
.io – India
.au – Australia

Generic TLDs

These alternatives work globally like .io:

.com – The standard
.net – Longstanding generic domain
.org – Non-profit organization

Niche TLDs

Industry-specific domains like:

.app – Mobile applications
.tech – Technology companies
.blog – Blogs and publications
.store – Ecommerce websites

Evaluate both the pros and cons of .io versus other domains on your shortlist. Mix and match different TLDs for more brand coverage.

Key takeaways about .io domains

Some of the main points to remember about the .io domain extension:

Originally the ccTLD for British Indian Ocean Territory, now a popular generic TLD.
Used widely by startups and tech brands for its meaning of "input/output".
Short, memorable two-letter domains with global availability.
Conveys modern, innovative spirit especially appealing to tech audiences.
Growing in popularity and SEO value, now seen as a legitimate alternative to .com.
Carries higher price tags than .com but offers more options for short domains.
Works very well for tech startups, open source projects, crypto sites and more.
Consider both benefits and drawbacks before choosing .io for your brand.

The .io TLD is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and successful domain extensions out there. While not suited to every purpose, it fills an important niche for the technology community.