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An '''IDN''' ('''Internationalized Domain Name''') is an Internet domain name that uses the latest [[ICANN]] protocols and standards to support domain names written in multiple scripts and languages (non-ASCII characters). They allow users to navigate the Internet without using English, which was long considered the default Internet language despite the Internet's growing base of international users. The first IDNs were implemented into [[Root Zone|the root]] in April, 2010; it is estimated that 60% of users now access the Internet in their native, non-English language.<ref>[http://mobile.ictqatar.qa/sites/default/files/documents/IDN_IGF_2011.pdf IDN IGF, ictqatar.qa]</ref>

An '''Internationalized Domain Name (IDN)''' is an Internet domain name that uses the latest [[ICANN]] protocols and standards to support domain names written in multiple scripts and languages (non-ASCII characters). They allow users to navigate the Internet without using English, which was long considered the default Internet language despite the Internet's growing base of international users. The first IDNs were implemented into [[Root Zone|the root]] in April, 2010; it is estimated that 60% of users now access the Internet in their native, non-English language.<ref>[http://mobile.ictqatar.qa/sites/default/files/documents/IDN_IGF_2011.pdf IDN IGF, ictqatar.qa]</ref> Since the development of initial guidelines, ICANN has adhered to the protocols and standards proposed by RFCs 3490, 3491, and 3492.<ref name="guidelines">[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/idn-guidelines-2003-06-20-en ICANN.org - IDN Guidelines], June 20, 2003</ref> <ref>See [https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc3490.txt RFC 3490] for an overview of IDN technical requirements</ref>

IDN can also be perceived as the label displayed in a software application, in an alphabet or language-specific script. IDNs are stored in the [[DNS]] as ASCII strings. The DNS performs look-up services to ensure the translation of user-friendly names to locate the Internet resources, and it is restricted to using [[ASCII]] characters for acceptable domains. IDNs ensure the names written by means of non-ASCII scripts are translated into ASCII text compatible with the [[DNS]].

IDNs are specialized labels displayed in a software application in a non-Latin alphabet or language-specific script. IDNs are stored in the [[DNS]] as ASCII strings. The DNS performs look-up services to ensure the translation of user-friendly names to locate the Internet resources, and it is restricted to using [[ASCII]] characters for acceptable domains. The "nameprep" protocol ensures the names written by means of non-ASCII scripts are translated into ASCII text compatible with the [[DNS]].<ref>This translation process is described in part by [https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc3491.txt RFC 3491]</ref>

The syntax designed for the use of the IDN is known as "Punycode." The non-ASCII characters are transformed into a specific format containing only ASCII characters and then a unique identification is processed for the domain name. <ref>[http://www.quackit.com/domain-names/internationalized_domain_names.cfm Registering IDNs]</ref>

The syntax designed for the use of the IDN is known as "[[Punycode]]."<ref>[See [https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc3492.txt RFC 3492] for a technical discussion of Punycode.</ref> The non-ASCII characters are transformed into a specific format containing only ASCII characters and then a unique identification is processed for the domain name. <ref>[http://www.quackit.com/domain-names/internationalized_domain_names.cfm Registering IDNs]</ref>

In order to see and use the characters found in IDNs various changes and specific settings may need to be manipulated within the Web browser, or the installation of foreign language packs may be required.

In order to see and use the characters found in IDNs, various changes and specific settings may need to be manipulated within the web browser, or the installation of foreign language packs may be required.

<big>'''[[New gTLD IDN Applications|See all Applications for New IDN TLDs]]'''</big>

<big>'''[[New gTLD IDN Applications|See all Applications for New IDN TLDs]]'''</big>

==History==

==History==

The IDN was proposed by [[Martin Dürst]] in 1996 and implemented in 1998 by [[Tan Juay Kwang]] and [[Leong Kok Yong]]. Later on, the [[IDNA]] system (Internationalizing Domain Names in Applications) was adopted and implemented in some top-level domain names. According to the [[IDNA]] system, an ''"internationalized domain name"'' signifies any domain name which contains labels on which the IDNA ASCII algorithm could be applied. [[James Seng]] (ChingHong Seng) has been credited as a primary inventor of IDNs.<ref>[http://zodiacregistry.com/about.php About, ZodiacRegistry.com]</ref>  In the early stages of his career, James Seng's mentor Dr. Tan Tin Wee inspired him to work on [[IDN]]s to curb the digital divide in Asia. With $24 million in investment from Venture Capital firms General Atlantic Partners and [[Network Solutions]]/[[Verisign]], James went on become the founder and CTO of [[i-DNS.net]]. During this time, he was working on the standardization of IDNs as the Co-Chair of the IDN Working Group at the [[IETF]]. He also stressed the need for IDNs at various forums such as [[ICANN]], [[ITU]] and [[IGF]] and his efforts have helped make IDN an Internet standard.

The IDN was proposed by [[Martin Dürst]] in 1996 and implemented in 1998 by [[Tan Juay Kwang]] and [[Leong Kok Yong]]. Later on, the [[IDNA]] system (Internationalizing Domain Names in Applications) was adopted and implemented in some top-level domain names. According to the [[IDNA]] system, an ''"internationalized domain name"'' signifies any domain name which contains labels on which the IDNA ASCII algorithm could be applied. [[James Seng]] (ChingHong Seng) has been credited as a primary inventor of IDNs.<ref>[http://zodiacregistry.com/about.php About, ZodiacRegistry.com]</ref>  In the early stages of his career, James Seng's mentor Dr. Tan Tin Wee inspired him to work on [[IDN]]s to curb the digital divide in Asia. With $24 million in investment from Venture Capital firms General Atlantic Partners and [[Network Solutions]]/[[Verisign]], James went on become the founder and CTO of [[i-DNS.net]]. During this time, he was working on the standardization of IDNs as the Co-Chair of the IDN Working Group at the [[IETF]]. He also stressed the need for IDNs at various forums such as [[ICANN]], [[ITU]] and [[IGF]] and his efforts have helped make IDN an Internet standard. In India [http://thetechportal.com/2016/08/18/xgenplus-supports-idn-domain-names-in-india/ XgenPlus] Email software has successfully started offering email services in all Indian languages on IDN domain names.  

An important milestone in the development of IDN [[TLD]]s was the October, 2009, [[ICANN]] meeting in Korea. At the meeting the [[ICANN Board]] approved the IDN [[ccTLD]] Fast Track Process that enabled countries to offer national domain names with non-Latin characters. At that time, [[ICANN]] accepted the development of IDN ccTLDs on the Internet using IDNA standards. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/idn/ IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process according to ICANN]</ref>  

An important milestone in the development of IDN [[TLD]]s was the October, 2009, [[ICANN]] meeting in Korea. At the meeting the [[ICANN Board]] approved the IDN [[ccTLD]] Fast Track Process that enabled countries to offer national domain names with non-Latin characters. At that time, [[ICANN]] accepted the development of IDN ccTLDs on the Internet using IDNA standards. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/idn/ IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process according to ICANN]</ref>  

===ICANN Approves Delegation of IDN ccTLDs===

===ICANN Approves Delegation of IDN ccTLDs===

The first IDN ccTLDs were successfully implemented into the [[DNS]] root zone in May, 2010, these included Russia ([[.рф]]), Egypt ([[صر.]]), Saudi Arabia [[السعودية.]]) and United Arab Emirates ([[امارات.]]).<ref>[http://blog.icann.org/2010/05/idn-cctlds-%E2%80%93-the-first-four/ IDN ccTLDs – The First Four]</ref>  

The first [[IDN_ccTLD|IDN ccTLDs]] were successfully implemented into the [[DNS]] root zone in May, 2010, these included Russia ([[.рф]]), Egypt ([[صر.]]), Saudi Arabia [[السعودية.]]) and United Arab Emirates ([[امارات.]]).<ref>[http://blog.icann.org/2010/05/idn-cctlds-%E2%80%93-the-first-four/ IDN ccTLDs – The First Four]</ref>  

In August 2010, ICANN approved the delegation of the Arabic script TLDs for Palestine ([[فلسطين.]]), Tunisia ([[تونس.]]) Jordan ([[الاردن.]]),  Thailand ([[.ไทย]]) and the two IDN ccTLDs for Sri Lanka ([[.ලංකා]]) and ([[.இலங்கை]].<ref>[http://domainincite.com/palestine-gets-its-own-arabic-domain-names/ Palestine gets its own Arabic domain names]</ref> ICANN also approved the Arabic script ccTLD for Iran, India, Qatar, Singapore, Syria and Taiwan.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/irans-arabic-domain-choice-approved/ Iran’s Arabic domain choice approved]</ref>

In August 2010, ICANN approved the delegation of the Arabic script TLDs for Palestine ([[فلسطين.]]), Tunisia ([[تونس.]]) Jordan ([[الاردن.]]),  Thailand ([[.ไทย]]) and the two IDN ccTLDs for Sri Lanka ([[.ලංකා]]) and ([[.இலங்கை]].<ref>[http://domainincite.com/palestine-gets-its-own-arabic-domain-names/ Palestine gets its own Arabic domain names]</ref> ICANN also approved the Arabic script ccTLD for Iran, India, Qatar, Singapore, Syria and Taiwan.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/irans-arabic-domain-choice-approved/ Iran’s Arabic domain choice approved]</ref>

===Rejected IDN ccTLDs===

===Rejected IDN ccTLDs===

==By Country or Region==

==By Country or Region==

===Iran===

===Iran===

In 2013 the ccTLD registry, [[IRNIC]], transitioned existing IDN registrations at the second level under .ir to full IDNs under .ایران.<ref name="study">[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/eurid-middle-east-dns-study-initial-13oct15-en.pdf MEAC DNS Study], ICANN.org. Published 2015 October 13. Retrieved 2015 November 12.</ref>

In 2013 the ccTLD registry, [[IRNIC]], transitioned existing IDN registrations at the second level under .ir to full IDNs under .ایران.<ref name="study">[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/eurid-middle-east-dns-study-initial-13oct15-en.pdf MEAC DNS Study], ICANN.org. Published 2015 October 13. Retrieved 2015 November 12.</ref>

===Italy===

===Italy===

Beginning in July 11th, 2012, all .it domain names began allowing [[IDN|Internationalized Domain Names]] (IDN), allowing them to support Italian, French, and German accents and characters. In five minutes, 1,737 new IDNs were registered; in thirty, 2,620; in four hours, eight thousand.<ref name="idn">[http://centr.org/news/07-16-2012/2191/idn-success-italy IDN Success in Italy], Centr.org. Published 16 July 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.</ref> The first .it IDN name, registered in three seconds, was perché.it, followed by perchè.it, a misspelling of the former. Common words were registered in the first hours, along with accented words that are usually devoid of accents, such as "agentì", "pizzà", and "ìtalià". Non-Italian proper nouns were also registered in their native tongue, in the case of IDNs related to Austria -- österreich.it -- and the German city Cologne -- köln.it.<ref name="idn"></ref>

Beginning on July 11, 2012, all .it domain names began allowing [[IDN|Internationalized Domain Names]] (IDN), allowing them to support Italian, French, and German accents and characters. In five minutes, 1,737 new IDNs were registered; in thirty, 2,620; in four hours, eight thousand.<ref name="idn">[http://centr.org/news/07-16-2012/2191/idn-success-italy IDN Success in Italy], Centr.org. Published 16 July 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.</ref> The first .it IDN name, registered in three seconds, was perché.it, followed by perchè.it, a misspelling of the former. Common words were registered in the first hours, along with accented words that are usually devoid of accents, such as "agentì", "pizzà", and "ìtalià". Non-Italian proper nouns were also registered in their native tongue, in the case of IDNs related to Austria -- österreich.it -- and the German city Cologne -- köln.it.<ref name="idn"></ref>

===Turkey===

===Turkey===

===Middle East Region===

===Middle East Region===

As of December 2014, 2̬% of the existing 91,000 full IDNs were in Arabic script, and the leading ones were [[.موقع]] (.mawqe, aka "site") and [[.شبكة]] (.shabaka, aka "web"). The strong performers in the region are United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Islamic Republic of Iran.<ref name="study"></ref>

As of December 2014, 2̬% of the existing 91,000 full IDNs were in Arabic script, and the leading ones were [[.موقع]] (.mawqe, aka "site") and [[.شبكة]] (.shabaka, aka "web"). The strong performers in the region are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.<ref name="study"></ref>

 

==References==

==References==

[[Category: Glossary]]

[[Category: Glossary]]