Domain Glossary
IDN (Internationalized Domain Name)
An IDN (Internationalized Domain Name) is a domain name that includes non-ASCII characters, allowing web addresses to use native language scripts such as accented Latin letters, Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, or other Unicode characters. This enables users to access and register domain names in their own language rather than being limited to the traditional ASCII character set (A–Z, 0–9, and hyphens).
Back to GlossaryExamples include
münchen.de
Germany – uses umlaut “ü”
例子.中国
China – uses Chinese characters
παράδειγμα.gr
Greek script
Why IDNs Matter
Make domain names more accessible in local languages and scripts
Support global audiences by removing language barriers in web navigation
Strengthen local branding and cultural relevance
Improve user trust by matching how people naturally read and type in their native language
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