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IDN Standards

Learn More Internet Standards Community Understanding Character Variants Internet Standards IETF Standards Summary IDN Info Benefits for Users Find IDN Registrars How IDNs Work IDN FAQs IDN Media Center Scripts and Languages Existing Customers Registrar Customer Support

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) led the effort to create standards for using non-ASCII characters in the Domain Name System (DNS). International working groups developed suggested standards and publish them for review and comment. Participating organizations developed technologies to the standards to test their application. Through a process of revision and comment, participants reached agreement and issued standards in 2003.. VeriSign contributed to the IETF’s IDN Working Group.

Internet Standards Community >>

The organizations responsible for Internet standards are: the Internet Architecture Board, the IETF, and ICANN.

Internet Standards >>

The VeriSign IDN program follows the IETF standards and VeriSign serves as an important partner in testing the application and technologies required.

Understanding Character Variants >>

VeriSign has focused on solving the problem of resolving character variants with particular emphasis on the Chinese language.

IETF Standards Summary >>

The four standards related to IDNs are the encoding scheme, name preparation, and IDNs in applications and string preparation. In March 2003, the IETF published the last of the IDN Requests for Comment (RFCs) and VeriSign began the migration process to the published IDN standards.