Internationalised domain names (IDNs) let people use their own script in a web address. Behind the scenes DNS stores them as ASCII "punycode" beginning with xn--. This converter translates both ways and highlights mixed-script and look-alike characters that attackers use to imitate brands.
How to use the IDN / Punycode Converter
- Paste a Unicode domain or a punycode domain.
- Press Convert.
- Review the script check for look-alike warnings.
How it works
Unicode to punycode conversion uses your browser's built-in URL parser, which applies the IDNA standard. The reverse direction is decoded with the RFC 3492 algorithm. Characters outside basic Latin are listed with their Unicode code points.
When to use it
- Registering IDN domains correctly
- Investigating suspicious links
- Brand protection monitoring
Pro tips
- Mixed-script names (for example Latin plus Cyrillic) are a common phishing pattern.
- Some registries restrict which characters each extension allows.
Frequently asked questions
What is punycode?
An encoding defined in RFC 3492 that represents Unicode labels using only ASCII letters, digits and hyphens.
Are IDN domains valuable?
They can be in their own language markets, but resale liquidity is usually lower than ASCII equivalents.
Why do browsers sometimes show xn--?
Browsers display punycode when a name mixes scripts or looks deceptive, to protect users.