IDN Punycode Decoder – Convert xn-- Domains to Unicode and Back in 2 Easy Steps
IDN Punycode Decoder & Encoder
Convert Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) to standard Punycode and vice-versa instantly. Supports bulk conversion.
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| IDN (Unicode) | Internationalized Domain Name. Allows domains to contain local language characters (Arabic, Chinese, Accents). | bücher.example or پاکستان.com |
| Punycode | A standardized encoding algorithm used to convert Unicode characters to the restricted ASCII character set required by the DNS system. | xn--bcher-kva.example |
Prefix (xn--) | The exact ASCII string prefixed to all domains converted via Punycode, signaling to the browser to render it as Unicode. | xn-- |
Use this free punycode decoder to turn xn-- domain names into the readable international names they stand for, or encode Unicode domains into punycode.
Quick answer
Punycode is the ASCII form of an internationalized domain name (IDN). Each non-ASCII label is encoded and starts with xn--, so bücher.example becomes xn--bcher-kva.example and پاکستان.com becomes xn--mgbai9azgqp6j.com. Choose Decode (xn-- to Unicode) or Encode (Unicode to xn--), paste one domain per line, and the converted list appears instantly, ready to copy.
Table of Contents
Domain registrars, DNS panels, server logs and SEO tools often show international domains in punycode. A list full of xn-- names is hard to read and easy to mix up, and phishing sites sometimes use look-alike Unicode characters that only become obvious after decoding.
This IDN punycode decoder and encoder converts whole lists at once in your browser. Use it to read backlink exports, check domain availability, set up DNS records or audit suspicious links.
Punycode Examples
| Unicode (IDN) | Punycode | Script |
|---|---|---|
| bücher.example | xn--bcher-kva.example | German (Latin with umlaut) |
| münchen.de | xn--mnchen-3ya.de | German |
| mañana.com | xn--maana-pta.com | Spanish |
| پاکستان.com | xn--mgbai9azgqp6j.com | Urdu / Arabic script |
| 中国.cn | xn--fiqs8s.cn | Chinese |
Only labels that contain non-ASCII characters are encoded. Plain labels such as .com or example stay the same, and a normal domain like example.com passes through unchanged.
How Punycode Works
The DNS system only accepts the letters a–z, digits and hyphens. Punycode (defined in RFC 3492) keeps the ASCII letters of a label, adds a hyphen, and then encodes the position and value of each special character as more ASCII letters. The xn-- prefix, part of the IDNA standard, tells browsers that the label should be shown as Unicode.
How to Use the IDN Punycode Decoder
Step 1: Choose Decode or Encode
Select Decode (xn-- to Unicode) to turn punycode into readable names, or Encode (Unicode to xn--) to turn international names into the ASCII form used by DNS.
Step 2: Paste Domains and Copy the Result
Paste one domain per line into the input box. The output box converts each line as you type, the badges show how many domains were read and converted, and a green bar confirms success. Click Copy Converted List to copy everything, or Clear Data to start over.
When You Need a Punycode Converter
- Reading backlink and referral reports: SEO tools often list international domains in xn-- form.
- DNS and hosting setup: many control panels need the punycode version for records and SSL certificates.
- Email and server logs: decode sender or host names to see where traffic really comes from.
- Domain research: check how an international brand name will be registered.
- Security checks: decode suspicious links to spot look-alike (homograph) domains.
Spotting Homograph Phishing Domains
Some characters from other alphabets look almost identical to Latin letters, such as the Cyrillic “а” and the Latin “a”. A fake domain can look like a real brand in the address bar while its punycode starts with xn--. If a link in an email decodes to unexpected characters, do not enter passwords or payment details on that site.
Tips
- Paste domain names only, without https:// or paths, for the cleanest result.
- Keep one domain per line for bulk conversion.
- Lowercase letters are standard; DNS names are not case-sensitive.
- Everything runs in your browser, so lists are never uploaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a punycode decoder?
It converts ASCII domain names that start with xn-- back into the Unicode characters they represent, so you can read international domains.
What does xn-- mean in a domain?
It marks a label encoded with punycode. Browsers display it as the original Unicode text.
Can I convert many domains at once?
Yes. Paste one domain per line and the whole list is converted together.
Does it support Urdu and Arabic domains?
Yes. For example, پاکستان.com converts to xn--mgbai9azgqp6j.com and back.
Will normal domains change?
No. Domains with only a–z, digits and hyphens stay the same.
Is the punycode decoder free?
Yes. It is free, runs in your browser and needs no sign-up.