# CNET Download

> Internet download directory website

**Wikidata**: [Q1155881](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1155881)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNET_Download)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cnet-download

## Summary
CNET Download is an internet download directory website that functions as a repository for software and digital files. Operating primarily under the domain Download.com, the site is owned by CBS Corporation and CNET Networks. It serves as a centralized resource for users to access software downloads, with content primarily presented in English.

## Key Facts
- **Primary Name:** CNET Download (preferred), also widely known as Download.com.
- **Classification:** Defined as a website and specifically an internet download directory.
- **Ownership:** Owned by CBS Corporation and CNET Networks.
- **Launch Dates:** The website's start time is recorded as February 24, 1996, while the general inception date is listed as October 23, 1996.
- **Language:** The primary language of work or name is English.
- **Web Domains:** Accessible via http://www.download.com and https://download.cnet.com.
- **Traffic Rankings:** Held an Alexa rank of 11,700 as of May 20, 2021, and 44,214 on November 29, 2017.
- **Wikipedia Presence:** The Wikipedia entry is titled "CNET Download" and includes 17 sitelinks across languages including Arabic, French, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese.
- **External Identifiers:** Associated with a Freebase ID of /m/04pl2j and an AlternativeTo software ID of cnets-downloadcom.
- **Aliases:** Includes the Arabic alias التحميل.كوم.
- **Community Recognition:** Listed as a specific topic on Quora under the identifier "Download-com".

## FAQs
**Who owns and operates CNET Download?**
CNET Download is owned by CBS Corporation and CNET Networks, which manage the platform's content and operations.

**When was the website originally launched?**
The website launch date is listed as February 24, 1996, with the broader entity inception date recorded as October 23, 1996.

**What is the primary purpose of the site?**
It functions as an internet download directory website, providing a platform for users to download software and other digital files.

**How has the site's web traffic ranking changed over time?**
The site's Alexa rank improved from 44,214 in late 2017 to approximately 11,700 by mid-2021.

**In how many languages is the site documented on Wikipedia?**
The Wikipedia entry for CNET Download is available in 17 languages, including Arabic, English, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

## Why It Matters
CNET Download plays a significant role as a long-standing directory for internet downloads, having maintained a presence since the mid-1990s. Its sustained operation and ownership by major entities like CBS Corporation and CNET Networks underscore its stability and relevance in the software distribution ecosystem. The site's ability to maintain a substantial global traffic rank, as evidenced by Alexa data, highlights its continued utility as a resource for software acquisition. Furthermore, its documentation across 17 different Wikipedia languages reflects its widespread recognition and usage among diverse international audiences.

## Notable For
- Operating under two distinct primary web addresses, maintaining the legacy http://www.download.com domain alongside https://download.cnet.com.
- Achieving a significant improvement in web traffic rank, moving from 44,214 to 11,700 between 2017 and 2021.
- Possessing a structured identity across multiple knowledge bases, including specific IDs on Freebase and AlternativeTo.
- Being recognized as a distinct topic of discussion on Quora.
- Holding a multilingual footprint on Wikipedia with sitelinks in 17 different languages.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
CNET Download is formally classified as a website, specifically serving as an internet download directory. While its preferred name is CNET Download, it is frequently referred to by its domain name, Download.com. The entity also holds an Arabic alias, التحميل.كوم. The primary language used for the site's content and operations is English. As a digital entity, it is categorized within the broader class of websites, which are defined as sets of related web pages served from a single web domain.

### Ownership and History
The platform is owned by two major corporate entities: CBS Corporation and CNET Networks. The timeline of its establishment includes two specific dates: the website's start time is noted as February 24, 1996, while the general inception of the entity is recorded as October 23, 1996. These dates mark the platform's entry into the digital landscape as a resource for software distribution.

### Web Presence and Metrics
CNET Download maintains a presence on the web through two primary URLs: http://www.download.com and https://download.cnet.com. The site has tracked its popularity through Alexa rankings over the years. On November 29, 2017, the site held an Alexa rank of 44,214. By May 20, 2021, this ranking had improved significantly to 11,700, indicating a growth in traffic or visibility relative to other sites on the web.

### External Identifiers and Documentation
The entity is integrated into various external databases and knowledge platforms. It possesses a Freebase ID of /m/04pl2j and an AlternativeTo software ID identified as cnets-downloadcom. Additionally, the site is the subject of a specific Quora topic titled "Download-com."

On Wikipedia, the entity is documented under the title "CNET Download." The article's reach is extensive, featuring 17 sitelinks that correspond to the following languages: Arabic (ar), English (en), Finnish (fi), French (fr), Hebrew (he), Japanese (ja), Korean (ko), Lithuanian (lt), Dutch (nl), Polish (pl), Portuguese (pt), Romanian (ro), Russian (ru), Swedish (sv), Ukrainian (uk), Vietnamese (vi), and Chinese (zh). This multilingual coverage highlights the platform's global relevance.

## References

1. [Source](https://geeknewscentral.com/2011/10/21/happy-15th-anniversary-download-com/)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20210520161800/https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/download.com)
4. [Alexa Internet](https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/download.com)
5. Quora