What does .so mean?
Registry operator: Ministry of Post and Telecommunications — per the IANA root database.
Source: IANA root zone database, checked August 23, 2026.
What .so is actually used for
Notion outgrew notion.so and moved to notion.com — the arc every .so startup should plan for. Fine launch domain, unlikely forever-domain.
Is .so a country code or generic domain?
.so is technically a country-code TLD (the ccTLD for Somalia), but it's widely marketed and used as a general-purpose extension. Google treats several such ccTLDs — including this one where applicable — as generic rather than geo-targeted.
Who runs .so?
.so is operated by Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, the registry for Somalia. It has been live in the official IANA DNS root since 2010.
Can anyone register a .so domain?
Yes — .so is open for public registration through accredited registrars. Availability of a specific name still depends on whether someone already owns it, and some ccTLDs add local-presence or ID requirements. Here’s how to check whether a specific name is taken.
Should you use it?
Our short answer: Sharp and word-hacky (notion.so made it famous) — but expensive and forever explaining itself. For the full pros, cons, and rating, read the complete .so review.