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EntityQ848715· pop 35· linked from 235 articles

Also known as .onion URL

.onion is a special-use top-level domain name designating an anonymous onion service, which was formerly known as a "hidden service", reachable via the Tor network. Such addresses are not actual DNS names, and the .onion TLD is not in the Internet DNS root, but with the appropriate proxy software installed, Internet programs such as web browsers can access sites with .onion addresses by sending the request through the Tor network.

Key facts

Top level domain.name
.onion
Top level domain.image
Tor-logo-2011-flat.svg
Top level domain.introduced
2004
Top level domain.type
Host suffix
Top level domain.status
Not in root, but used by Tor clients, servers, and proxies
Top level domain.registry
Tor
Top level domain.intendeduse
To designate an onion service reachable via Tor
Top level domain.actualuse
Used by Tor users for services in which both the provider and the user are anonymous and difficult to trace
Top level domain.restrictions
Addresses are "registered" automatically by Tor client when an onion service is set up
Top level domain.structure
Names are opaque strings generated from public keys
Top level domain.disputepolicy
N/A

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website
www.torproject.org
Show 1 more fact
inception
2004-00-00
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~6 min read

Article

8 sections
Contents
  • Format
  • WWW to .onion gateways
  • .exit (defunct pseudo-top-level domain)
  • Official designation
  • HTTPS support
  • See also
  • References
  • External links

.onion is a special-use top-level domain name designating an anonymous onion service, which was formerly known as a "hidden service", reachable via the Tor network. Such addresses are not actual DNS names, and the .onion TLD is not in the Internet DNS root, but with the appropriate proxy software installed, Internet programs such as web browsers can access sites with .onion addresses by sending the request through the Tor network.

The "onion" name refers to onion routing, the technique used by Tor to achieve a degree of anonymity.

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