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Elizabeth Feinler

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description Elizabeth Feinler Overview

Elizabeth "Jake" Feinler is an American information scientist who directed the Network Information Center (NIC) at SRI International in Menlo Park, California, from 1972 until 1989. Her group managed the directories and registration services for ARPANET and the early Internet, including the WHOIS protocol for querying domain registrants. Feinler's team originated the design of the Domain Name System's top-level domains, including .com, .org, .edu, .gov, .mil, and .net, before those functions were transferred to NSI and ICANN.

help Elizabeth Feinler FAQ

What was Elizabeth Feinler's role in the early internet?

Elizabeth "Jake" Feinler directed the Network Information Center (NIC) at SRI International in Menlo Park from 1972 until 1989. Her group was instrumental in managing the directories and registration services for ARPANET and the early Internet.

Did Elizabeth Feinler invent the domain name system?

While she didn't write the code for the Domain Name System (DNS), she and her group at the NIC proposed the famous naming conventions. They are credited with introducing the .com, .org, .mil, .gov, and .edu top-level domain suffixes.

Why was Elizabeth Feinler called "Jake"?

She picked up the nickname "Jake" from her sister, who initially called her "Erma Jake" when they were young children. The nickname stuck, and she has been known as Jake Feinler throughout her entire professional career.

What award did Elizabeth Feinler receive for her internet contributions?

In 2023, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her foundational work in developing the internet's directory structure. She has also been recognized by the Internet Society and the Internet Engineering Task Force.

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