> international | domains | unicode <
// Punycode - International domain names with Unicode to ASCII encoding
Unicode Support
Encode any Unicode character including emojis and special scripts.
DNS Compatible
Creates ASCII-only domain names that work with DNS infrastructure.
RFC 3492
Official IETF standard for internationalized domain names (IDN).
>> technical info
How Punycode Works:
Punycode is a bootstring encoding that converts Unicode strings to ASCII. It separates ASCII characters from non-ASCII, then encodes the positions and values of Unicode characters using only ASCII.
Example:
"münchen" → xn--mnchen-3ya
Why Use Punycode:
- >International domain names (IDN)
- >Unicode in DNS systems
- >Email addresses with Unicode
- >Backward compatibility
- >Cross-system compatibility
>> frequently asked questions
What is Punycode?
Punycode is an encoding syntax used to convert Unicode characters to ASCII for use in Internationalized Domain Names (IDN). It allows domain names to contain non-ASCII characters.
Why does Punycode use 'xn--' prefix?
The 'xn--' prefix identifies a domain label as Punycode-encoded. It stands for 'ASCII Compatible Encoding' and prevents confusion with regular ASCII domain names.
Can I use emojis in domain names?
Yes, emojis can be encoded using Punycode. For example, 😊.com becomes xn--e28h.com. However, not all registrars support emoji domains.
Is Punycode only for domains?
While primarily designed for domain names, Punycode can encode any Unicode text to ASCII. It's most commonly used for IDN and internationalized email addresses.