Which domain indicates a government site in the United States?

Take the Information Literacy Test to excel in assessing, evaluating, and applying information effectively. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with comprehensive explanations. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

Which domain indicates a government site in the United States?

This question is about what domain endings (top-level domains) signal about who runs a site. In the United States, government sites use the .gov ending. This domain is reserved for U.S. government agencies and official entities, and it’s restricted to those with government functions. That makes .gov a reliable indicator that the site is a government source. Other endings have different typical meanings: .com is for commercial businesses, .org is often used by organizations (often nonprofits), and .edu is for accredited educational institutions. So when you see a site with .gov, you can feel more confident it’s a U.S. government source.

This question is about what domain endings (top-level domains) signal about who runs a site. In the United States, government sites use the .gov ending. This domain is reserved for U.S. government agencies and official entities, and it’s restricted to those with government functions. That makes .gov a reliable indicator that the site is a government source.

Other endings have different typical meanings: .com is for commercial businesses, .org is often used by organizations (often nonprofits), and .edu is for accredited educational institutions. So when you see a site with .gov, you can feel more confident it’s a U.S. government source.

More practice questions