Punycode Converter

Convert international domain names (IDN) between Unicode and Punycode ASCII format instantly. Paste your text in either box and click the convert button to transform Unicode characters into ASCII-compatible Punycode or decode Punycode back to readable Unicode text. You can also do bulk conversion by entering multiple domains line by line or in comma-separated format. Works with domain names, email addresses, and any text containing international characters.

Unicode Text (IDN)

Supports multiple lines or comma-separated values

Punycode (ASCII)

Supports multiple lines or comma-separated values

What is Punycode?

Punycode is how the internet handles domain names with non-English characters. It converts Unicode characters into ASCII format so they work with DNS servers, which only understand basic ASCII. For example, if you want to register "münchen.de", it gets converted to "xn--mnchen-3ya.de" behind the scenes. The "xn--" at the start tells systems it's a Punycode domain.

How Punycode Works

Domain names only allow numbers, letters, and hyphens. This is fine for writing in English, but not when you want domains in Russian, Arabic, or Chinese. DNS is not built for those languages. When someone registers a domain with characters like ä, ñ, or 中, it needs to be converted to ASCII format. Here, Punycode helps. It converts any Unicode character set into ASCII in a way DNS server will understand. If you open an international domain on the browser, you see Unicode readable version. Yet underneath, it is really using the Punycode format so it can find the proper server.

Why International Domains Use Punycode?

DNS system only reads ASCII style letters. So when you register a domain with Chinese, Arabic, or other foreign language text, it has to be changed into ASCII. Punycode converts this Unicode domain names into ASCII format so they work with existing infrastructure while supporting international characters. This matters because:

Users can register domains in their native languages
Websites can have addresses that match their local audience
Email addresses can include international characters
The internet becomes more accessible globally

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Punycode the same as Unicode?

No, they are different. Unicode means a standard that has characters from every language known. Punycode is only a way for showing those Unicode letters with ASCII. It is a translation layer, not really a full set of characters itself.

Do I need to convert my domain to Punycode manually?

Most of the time, no. Browsers and domain registrars handle it automatically. Although if you want to set DNS entries, SSL certificate(s), or APIs which do not let you use Unicode, you are going to need to use the Punycode style format.

Can Punycode domains be used for phishing?

Yeah, unfortunately. There's something called homograph attacks where scammers use characters that look identical but are from different alphabets. For example, a Latin "a" and a Cyrillic "а" look the same but have different codes. That's why modern browsers show the Punycode format to have extra security for suspicious mixed-script domains.

What does the "xn--" prefix mean?

It's a flag that tells DNS servers and browsers "hey, this is Punycode". Anything after "xn--" needs to be decoded back to Unicode to see what the actual domain is.

Can all Unicode characters be converted to Punycode?

From a technical view, yes. Punycode can turn any Unicode symbol into its code. However, different domain registries have own rules for which symbols are really allowed in domain names.

How do I check if a domain is Punycode?

If a domain starts with "xn--", it's in Punycode format. You can paste it into a converter tool to see the Unicode version.

What's the difference between IDN and Punycode?

IDN, or Internationalized Domain Name, is what you see as readable Unicode whereas Punycode is the ASCII code DNS uses. They're two formats of the same domain.

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