ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
02/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/04/2026 13:13
ICANN Introduces Name Collision Observatory To Assist New gTLD Applicants
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched the Name Collision Observatory, a tool designed to give applicants in the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: 2026 Round an idea of whether their chosen TLD, or "string," is at high risk for name collision.
Name collision occurs when a name that is intended to be resolved in one naming system, like the global Domain Name System (DNS), is inadvertently resolved in a different naming system. This can lead to unexpected behavior such as communication being disrupted or redirected from its intended recipient.
The web-based Name Collision Observatory allows new gTLD applicants to view historical DNS magnitude data for TLD strings. Magnitude data measures the popularity and reach of a TLD by looking at the number of unique client networks querying it, instead of the total number of queries. This provides a view of its usage and may help applicants assess whether the string they wish to apply for is at risk for name collision.
ICANN notes that applicants should not assume that if the Name Collision Observatory indicates a low volume of queries for a string, that string ultimately will be assessed as "safe" to delegate. The domain magnitude data is just one of several quantitative and qualitative factors taken into account when assessing the risk associated with a string during the gTLD application process.
For more information, please refer to the Name Collision section (Module 7.7) in the Applicant Guidebook.
About ICANN
ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address - a name or a number - into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.
ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers published this content on February 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 04, 2026 at 19:13 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]