Internationalized Domain Names - ICANN (original) (raw)

Overview

Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) enable people around the world to use domain names in local languages and scripts. IDNs are formed using characters from different scripts, such as Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic or Devanagari. These are encoded by the Unicode standard and used as allowed by relevant IDN protocols.

ICANN has instituted the IDN Program to assist in the development and promotion of a multilingual Internet using IDNs. The program is primarily focused on the planning and implementation of IDN top-level domains (TLDs), including IDN country code TLDs and generic TLDs. The IDN Program also supports projects geared towards effective use of IDNs at the second-level of the Domain Name System, as guided by the community.

IDN Program Projects

Top-Level Domain Projects:

Root Zone Label Generation Rules (LGR) icon

Root Zone Label Generation Rules (RZ-LGR)

A community driven project aiming to define conservative mechanisms for introducing IDN TLDs into the Internet's Root Zone in a stable and secure manner.

IDN Variant TLD Implementation icon

IDN Variant TLD Implementation

A project to support the development of policy and procedures for implementing IDN variant TLDs.

LGR Toolset icon

LGR Tool

An application that enables users to create, use and manage IDN tables in the formal, machine-readable format, called Label Generation Rules.

IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process icon

IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process

Fast track process created by Internet community for evaluation of top-level IDN labels representing countries and territories.

Second-Level Domain Projects:

IDN Implementation Guidelines icon

IDN Implementation Guidelines

Recommended practices developed through a community-led process to reduce user confusion and promote consistent use of IDNs for registries implementing IDNs at the second level.

Second-level LGR References icon

Second-level LGR References

Reference second level LGRs, reviewed by experts and community, being provided to assist registries offering IDNs during Pre-Delegation Testing and the Registry Service Evaluation Process.

Learn More

Download the "Access Domain Names in Your Language" infographic:

Internationalized Domain Names allow people around the world to access domain names in their local languages

Download the "Emojis in Domain Names" document and learn why they create a security risk when used in domain names:

Emojis in Domain Names: A Security Risk for Everyone

Visit our Resources section for useful links and related documents.