internationalized domain name
Quick Summary
Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) allow for the use of non-Latin characters in domain names, expanding internet accessibility for users whose native languages are not based on the Latin alphabet. This initiative began with testing in 2007, incorporating characters from languages like Chinese, Arabic, and Cyrillic, alongside traditional Latin letters, numbers, and hyphens.1
The management of domain names, including IDNs, is overseen by ICANN, a non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the Internet's domain name system (DNS). The DNS acts like a directory, translating human-readable domain names into computer-readable IP addresses. The first IDNs, featuring Arabic characters, were implemented in May 2010 in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. IDNs aim to eventually support nearly 100,000 characters across many languages, making the internet more inclusive.1
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