What is an exact-match domain?

An exact-match domain is a web address whose second-level name corresponds precisely to the words a market uses to describe itself. Semiconductor.co.uk is an exact-match domain for the semiconductor sector; Conveyancing.co.uk is an exact-match domain for the conveyancing market.

The defining characteristic is scarcity. Within a given extension there is exactly one exact-match domain for any term. Ownership is therefore absolute rather than comparative, which distinguishes these assets from most other forms of marketing investment.

For a business, the practical benefit is clarity. A recipient who reads the address already understands the category the organisation operates in. That clarity carries through email addresses, printed material, vehicle livery and spoken reference, and it reduces the explanatory work a brand must otherwise perform.