Website Evaluation (C.R.A.A.P test)
Knowing more about domain name extensions or URL extensions can be a helpful tool when you are evaluating the authority or usefulness of websites.
.com -- This means the site is owned by a commercial, or for-profit, company or organization. This is not always a bad thing. Websites for newspapers and magazines usually end with .com, for example. On the other hand, many .com sites are designed to sell a product or service rather than provide information.
.org -- This means the site is owned by a non-profit organization. Their purpose might be to provide information, raise money, or solicit volunteers.
.edu -- This is the address designation used by educational institutions, whether they are colleges and universities, high schools, or elementary schools. Make sure you understand who the target audience is for these websites.
.net -- This is a "bucket" designation that often means the site is created by one person or organization but is stored on rented server space by an outside provider. .net is often used for sites or blogs created by an individual. You may need to look carefully at the credentials of the author of a .net site. Also, be careful not to confuse the server provider with the actual author of the information.