gov

Gov is commonly used to refer to the official domain space for United States government entities, most notably the .gov top-level domain. The .gov domain is intended to host authoritative government websites and public services, and it is restricted to eligible government organizations rather than individuals or private businesses.

Management and eligibility: The .gov domain is administered by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) with policy guidance on eligibility and usage. Registration is restricted to federal, state, local, and tribal government entities or legally recognized government-related organizations. Applicants must demonstrate government status and meet verification requirements before a domain is issued.

Registration and use: Entities seeking a .gov domain must submit a request through the designated registry process, provide documentation proving government status, and comply with applicable security and policy standards. Once registered, domains are typically used for official portals, information resources, and digital services that require a trusted government signal. Many government websites use .gov addresses to help users distinguish official information from unofficial sources.

Impact and characteristics: A .gov domain conveys an official source and can aid in audience trust, information accuracy, and public service delivery. It also supports government-wide branding, accessibility, and security practices across agencies. While the domain is a strong trust signal, it does not by itself ensure content accuracy or security, which depend on the hosting infrastructure and organizational practices.

See also: General Services Administration, USA.gov, government domain policies, DNS security.