Domain extension

.uk

Country code · United Kingdom · Nominet UK

.uk
🔒 Signed (DS in the root)
Category
Country code
IANA type
Country Code
Country
United Kingdom
Manager
Nominet UK
Script
Latin
DS in root
1 record(s)
Algorithm
8 · RSASHA256
Second-level
10 suffixes
IDN names
no IDN tables at IANA
WHOIS
none (RDAP only)
RDAP
yes

Checked 26 Oct 2026 by our weekly check.

Is a .uk name registered?

Looked up from your browser in the registry's RDAP service; if that does not answer, in DNS. Nothing is stored on dnssec.in.

What this means

The root zone holds a DS record for .uk, so the extension is signed and anchored. A domain under .uk can use DNSSEC with a full chain of trust: it needs to be signed at its DNS host and have its own DS at the registrar. .uk is the country code for United Kingdom; its registry sets who can register.

Second-level suffixes under .uk (10)

You can register names directly under .uk or under these suffixes, for example example.co.uk. Some are restricted to certain users (government, education, banks). Source: the Public Suffix List.

  • .ac.uk
  • .co.uk
  • .gov.uk
  • .ltd.uk
  • .me.uk
  • .net.uk
  • .nhs.uk
  • .org.uk
  • .plc.uk
  • .police.uk

IDN names under .uk

No IDN tables for .uk at IANA: names are usually ASCII only (a–z, 0–9 and hyphen).

Length

DNS limits are the same everywhere: each label is 1 to 63 characters, the whole name at most 253, letters, digits and hyphens, not starting or ending with a hyphen. IDN labels count their xn-- form, so fewer native characters fit. A registry can set a higher minimum (often 2 or 3 characters) or reserve short names: that is in its own policy.

WHOIS and RDAP

RDAP (the JSON successor to WHOIS) answers at https://rdap.nominet.uk/uk/. There is no classic WHOIS server (port 43): since January 2025 ICANN lets gTLD registries offer RDAP only.

Lifecycle and drop

Country code extensions set their own lifecycle: grace periods, redemption and release dates differ from country to country and are not covered by ICANN's gTLD policies. Read the registry's rules: http://www.nic.uk/.

Domains we check under .uk

More: Country code

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