- Google retires with country -specific domains like Google.co.uk
- Previously used for local content is now using Google Location to earn this
- The change will happen over the next few months as shifts to Google.com
Google has confirmed that it will be retiring country-specific domains (like Google.co.uk) in favor of a single global domain-google.com.
Historically, the top-level domain of the land code (CCTLDs) was used to provide locally relevant search results, but the company now uses technology that allows it regardless of the top domain.
Google used this reason to justify his decision to stop using country -specific domains: “Because of this improvement, domains in the countryside are no longer necessary.”
With reference to a blog post in 2017, Google, Google revised an update that meant location would decide that the content users saw in search results rather than CCTLD.
Back then, one in five searches related to location, and it is a figure that is likely to have risen in recent years.
“Writing the relevant CCTLD in your browser no longer brings you to the different country services – this preference must be directly controlled in settings,” the company said in 2017. Therefore, users are already long used to not having to use CCTLDs to access localized content.
Google confirmed on April 15, 2025, it would redirect users to Google.com as part of a change set to roll out in the coming months.
“It is important to note that while this update will change what people see in their browser address beam, it will not affect the way search works, nor will it change how we handle obligations under national laws.” Stressed Google.
Apart from a streamlining effort, it is possible that the transition is also a cost -saving effort for Google. Keeping tens of thousands of unnecessary domains open is probably a costly business and one that is no longer needed thanks to the location -based technology that enables localized search results regardless of TLD.
