Can a TLD start with a numeric character?

No, a top-level domain (TLD) cannot start with a numeric character. TLDs must begin with a letter and can include letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (-). However, the rules governing TLDs specify that they must not start with a number or hyphen. This applies to both generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

### Examples of Valid TLDs
- **gTLDs**: `.com`, `.org`, `.net`, `.info`, `.xyz`
- **ccTLDs**: `.us`, `.uk`, `.de`, `.jp`, `.cn`

### Key Rules for TLDs
- **First Character**: Must be a letter (a-z).
- **Length**: Typically, TLDs range from 2 to 63 characters.
- **Allowed Characters**: Letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (-).
- **Hyphen Restrictions**: Hyphens cannot be the first or last character and cannot appear consecutively.

### Example of Invalid TLDs
- **Starting with a Number**: `.3com` (invalid because it starts with a numeric character)
- **Starting with a Hyphen**: `-.example` (invalid because it starts with a hyphen)

The rules for TLDs are designed to ensure consistency and avoid confusion in the DNS system. Therefore, numeric characters at the beginning of TLDs are not allowed.