.io

Domain Information

Domain Name .io
Registration Date 1997-09-16
Updated Date 2023-01-18
Type country-code

Organisation

Name Internet Computer Bureau Limited c/o Sure (Diego Garcia) Limited
Address Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories, PSC 466 Box 59, FPO-AP 96595-0059
Country British Indian Ocean Territory (the)

Administrative Contact

Name Internet Administrator
Organization Internet Computer Bureau Limited c/o Sure (Diego Garcia) Limited
Address Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories, PSC 466 Box 59, FPO-AP 96595-0059
Country British Indian Ocean Territory (the)
Phone +246 9398
Fax +246 9398

Technical Contact

Name Administrator
Organization Internet Computer Bureau Ltd
Address Greytown House, 221-227 High Street, Orpington Kent BR6 0NZ
Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
Phone +44 (0)1689 827505
Fax +44 (0)1689 831478

Registry Information

URL for registration http://www.nic.io/
WHOIS Server whois.nic.io
RDAP Server

Reserved Second-Level Domains

About .io

The .io domain extension has become one of the most popular choices for tech startups, SaaS products, developer tools, and gaming companies. It is the country code TLD (ccTLD) for the British Indian Ocean Territory, but its appeal comes from its association with "input/output" (I/O) in computer science.

History of .io

.io is the country code TLD assigned to the British Indian Ocean Territory. While originally intended for that territory, it became widely adopted by the tech community in the 2010s due to its I/O association. It is now managed by the Internet Computer Bureau on behalf of the territory's administrator.

Who Uses .io?

.io domains are popular with:

  • Tech startups seeking a modern, tech-forward identity
  • Developer tools (API services, CLI tools, IDEs)
  • SaaS platforms targeting technical audiences
  • Gaming companies (Agar.io, Slither.io)
  • Open source projects

Registration Requirements

No geographic restrictions for .io. Registration costs approximately $30–$60/year, higher than .com due to its premium positioning. Available through most major registrars.