# Namespaces

## Create a namespace <a href="#create-a-namespace" id="create-a-namespace"></a>

![](https://docs.satsnames.org/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F2381352238-files.gitbook.io%2F%7E%2Ffiles%2Fv0%2Fb%2Fgitbook-x-prod.appspot.com%2Fo%2Fspaces%252F8HLCZlJ7Ep94FnlQr8aR%252Fuploads%252FJtMnZFnE61skrmBn6nhQ%252FTwitter%2520post%2520-%25201.png%3Falt%3Dmedia%26token%3Dec7a7037-d90f-406c-b77a-1e44ab45086a\&width=768\&dpr=4\&quality=100\&sign=3fbedcc4\&sv=1)

Here are few reasons to inscribe a namespace operation for your community:

* Help indexers and marketplaces "find" your namespace.
* Include a description so inscribers know the purpose of the namespace.
* Include a nice avatar or logo for marketplaces.

A few other important details about namespaces:

* Like names, namespaces (specifically the `ns` value) are globally unique, and the first inscription of any namespace is the only valid instance. First is first.
* The namespace inscription does not add, or remove, or limit anything related to how others inscribe names.
* You can inscribe any SNS name, on any namespace, before the namespace inscription has been created.
* No special permissions are given to the namespace inscription holder.
* Namespace inscriptions have no speculative or secondary market value.

## Namespace operation <a href="#namespace-operation" id="namespace-operation"></a>

Copy

```
{
    "p": "sns",
    "op": "ns",
    "ns": "bel",
    "about": "Names on Bellscoin. First is first.",
    "avatar": "6373fce7c218e344d78e6c1802651ee1557eb6ebd2292b2ba24d449792227869i0",
}
```

| Key    | Required? | Description                                                                                          |
| ------ | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| p      | Yes       | Helps indexers identify the SNS protocol                                                             |
| op     | Yes       | New namespace operation                                                                              |
| ns     | Yes       | Defines the namespace, for example `sats` defines the .sats namespace. Do not include the period `.` |
| about  | No        | A short description. Aim for under 50 characters.                                                    |
| avatar | No        | A logo or image symbolizing the namespace. Use Inscription ID.                                       |

Do not include the period, or dot, in the operation.

You're welcome to put any UTF-8 character in your namespace but we recommend keeping things simple. Emoji, rare unicode characters, etc. are probably a bad idea and may have poor support by indexers or marketplaces.

## ⚠️ Registration limitations <a href="#registration-limitations" id="registration-limitations"></a>

These rules apply to all namespaces and names:

* Only the first instance of each name/namespace is valid.
* Only one name operation per ordinal inscription.
* Any UTF-8 character is valid.
* Capitalization does not matter. All names/namespaces will be indexed as lowercase.
* No spaces are permitted within a name.