Internet corporation for assigned names and numbers (ICANN)

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a private organization with over 300 members.

ICANN evolved from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority( IANA) and took over its responsibilities, overseeing the Domain NameSystem( DNS), IP addresses, and top- level domains(TLDs).

ICANN is divided into three sub-organizations responsible for name allocation, distribution of computer addresses, and development of transfer protocols.

The organization coordinates technical parameters, assigns protocol parameters, and controls root server management functions. These root servers, of which there are only a few worldwide, act as higher-level name servers( NS).