The domain name nato was a top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. The domain was added in the late 1980s by InterNIC for the use of NATO, based on the representation that none of the then existing top-level domains (TLDs) adequately reflected their status as an international organization. Soon after this addition, however, the <tt>int</tt> TLD was created for the use of international organizations, and NATO was persuaded to use instead. Without use, the <tt>NATO</tt> TLD, was deleted in July 1996.