What does .cc mean in a URL?

Asked by: Darius Hackett  |  Last update: February 18, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (38 votes)

A .cc domain is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory, but it's used globally as a versatile domain representing terms like Creative Commons, Consulting Company, Cyber Cafe, Country Club, or Crypto Currency, with no registration restrictions. Its meaning depends on the website's purpose, making it popular for branding, though some users might perceive less trust than .com, notes www.luckyregister.com.

Is a .cc website safe?

No TLD is inherently harmful. . cc domains are just as safe and SEO-friendly as other extensions. Moreover, the official registry for . cc domains is Verisign, a trusted internet company that also handles registrations of popular domain extensions like .com and .

What does .cc URL mean?

The . cc domain is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) originally assigned to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean. However, it has found popularity as a globally recognized domain extension due to its versatility and availability.

What is .cc at the end of a website?

The . cc domain is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) that was initially for Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory. It was introduced in 1997 to represent this region.

Who owns the .cc domain?

The . cc domain is the country code top-level domain for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory. The domain was introduced in 1997 and is administered by eNIC, a VeriSign subsidiary company. The domain extension is promoted for international registration as “the next .com”.

English for Emails: Cc and Bcc explained

26 related questions found

Is a .cn domain trustworthy?

A .cn domain can be trustworthy as it signifies a business is registered in China and adheres to local regulations, requiring verification for registration, but users must beware of common email scams where fraudsters claim someone else is trying to register their trademark to pressure them into buying a .cn domain. While the domain itself can signify authenticity and local presence, the registration process for legitimate .cn domains is controlled by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) and requires real-name verification, making it a reliable indicator if obtained legitimately, but always verify the sender of unsolicited requests. 

What is replacing WHOIS?

On 28 January 2025, it was officially abandoned in favour of the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP), which offers a more modern and structured alternative.

Is a .ch domain trustworthy?

Swiss industries enjoy a prestigious reputation for most European internet users. As such, they will naturally trust a . ch domain extension when they navigate to your site.

Is a .CC domain good for SEO?

From an SEO perspective, using a . cc domain does not significantly help or hurt your search ranking. Google and most search engines rank . cc and all generic top-level domains (gTLDs) equally.

Is CC better than public domain?

Neither Creative Commons (CC) nor Public Domain is inherently "better"; they serve different purposes, with Public Domain offering total freedom (no restrictions, no attribution needed), while CC licenses provide conditional freedom (allowing reuse but requiring specific actions like attribution or non-commercial use), letting creators keep some control, making Public Domain more permissive but CC more flexible for creators who want to share but retain specific rights.
 

What does .cc mean for a website?

Some open-source/open-hardware projects, such as the Arduino project, use a . cc for their home pages, since "CC" is also the abbreviation for "Creative Commons", whose licenses are used in the projects. Business owners in Southern Massachusetts are rapidly adopting Cape Cod CC domains for local identity.

How do I transfer a .cc domain?

Transfers

  1. In the Order Management section, enter the domain name in the Transfer a domain field, and then click Transfer . The Transfers for . cc page appears.
  2. Complete the Transfer Form.
  3. Once the Transfer Form is complete, click Submit.

What country is .cc for?

. cc is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an external territory of Australia.

What links should you not click on?

High-Risk Clicks

  • “Urgent” email with attachment.
  • Shortened link in spam text.
  • Button to pay invoice in an email you weren't expecting.
  • Login page on a site with misspelled domain.

Is .cc safe?

Yes, the .cc domain is generally as safe as other extensions like .com, being managed by Verisign, the same trusted registry, but its safety depends more on the specific website, not the TLD itself; while some older reports noted issues with illicit sites on subdomains like .co.cc, the .cc TLD itself is reliable for legitimate businesses and creatives, offering a globally recognized, versatile web address. 

What are common signs of an unsafe website?

5 URL Warning Signs to Watch For

  • The end of the domain is the most important part to check. ...
  • Hyphens and symbols are common in malicious links. ...
  • Beware of domains that are entirely numbers. ...
  • Shortened URLs are URLs in disguise. ...
  • Scammers can mask dangerous links with legitimate-looking links.

Is .cc a safe domain?

Yes, the .cc domain is generally as safe as other extensions like .com, being managed by Verisign, the same trusted registry, but its safety depends more on the specific website, not the TLD itself; while some older reports noted issues with illicit sites on subdomains like .co.cc, the .cc TLD itself is reliable for legitimate businesses and creatives, offering a globally recognized, versatile web address. 

What to avoid in a domain name?

Mistakes to avoid while choosing your domain name?

  • Avoid using numerals. ...
  • Making an irregular domain name selection. ...
  • Avoid using complicated words. ...
  • Ignoring the link history. ...
  • Selecting an extended domain name. ...
  • Paying too much to be a something. ...
  • Avoid registering a domain that isn't a social username.

What is the 80/20 rule in SEO?

The 80/20 Rule in SEO (also known as the Pareto Principle) suggests that 80% of your results (traffic, conversions) come from only 20% of your efforts or website elements, like specific keywords, top-performing pages, or high-authority backlinks, urging marketers to focus on these high-impact areas rather than spreading themselves too thin. It means identifying your "vital few" (the 20%) that drive the most value and doubling down on those, while minimizing time on less effective activities. 

What is an example of a fake domain?

For example, they might register "googgle[.]com" instead of "google[.]com." Also known as URL hijacking, it's a deceptive tactic used by cybercriminals to capitalize on typos made by internet users when typing in a website's domain name.

Is .com or .io better?

Neither .io nor .com is universally "better"; the best choice depends on your brand, but .com is generally more trusted for broad audiences, while .io offers a modern, tech-focused identity and better name availability, making it great for startups, SaaS, and gaming, though it might confuse less tech-savvy users. Choose .com for maximum familiarity and .io for a cutting-edge tech vibe. 

Is GoDaddy or Google domains better?

Google Domains is also much easier to navigate, with transparent pricing and terms. Overall, when it comes to Google Domains vs GoDaddy, we recommend Google. You'll find it a more streamlined experience, especially if you plan to use other Google services, like Gmail email hosting.

Will .io be phased out?

After the transfer, current IANA rules may require the . io domain to be phased out, which would take at least 5 years. This depends on whether IO is removed from the ISO 3166-1 standard. Historically, some exceptions have been granted, as was the case for .

Can I own a domain name forever?

ICANN rules stop the permanent sale of domain names to ensure fairness. So, you can't own a domain name permanently, but you can control it long-term by renewing it. This system blocks people from buying domains just to hoard them. It also prevents any one entity from controlling too many domains forever.

Who actually owns domain names?

Although people often speak of buying and owning domain names, the truth is that registries own all of their domain names and registrars simply offer customers the opportunity to reserve those domain names for a limited amount of time. The maximum reservation period for a domain name is ten years.