Unicode Domain
Learn what Unicode domains are, how they enable non-Latin scripts online, and how DMARCeye protects multilingual domains from spoofing and impersonation.
What is a Unicode Domain?
A Unicode domain is a domain name that contains characters beyond the standard ASCII set, such as letters with accents or characters from non-Latin scripts like Cyrillic, Arabic, or Chinese. Unicode domains allow organizations and individuals to register web addresses that reflect native languages, alphabets, and cultural identities. They are an integral part of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), which expand global accessibility and inclusivity on the internet.
Before Unicode support, domain names were limited to English characters (A–Z, 0–9, and hyphens). With Unicode, users can represent domain names in hundreds of languages, improving usability and brand recognition worldwide. However, because the Domain Name System (DNS) only supports ASCII, these domains are encoded using Punycode before DNS resolution.
How Unicode Domains Work
When a Unicode domain is entered in a browser or email address, it is automatically converted to its ASCII-compatible Punycode version. For example:
例子.公司 → xn--fsqu00a.xn--55qx5dThe browser or mail system then queries the encoded version in DNS. After resolution, the user sees the Unicode version again for readability.
Security Considerations
While Unicode domains enhance accessibility, they also present risks. Threat actors can exploit similar-looking characters from different scripts to create deceptive “homograph” domains that visually mimic trusted brands. For example, “раypal.com” (using Cyrillic characters) can appear identical to “paypal.com.”
To combat this, modern browsers use mixed-script detection and visual similarity filters to warn users. Authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are also essential for verifying that Unicode domains represent legitimate senders.
Unicode Domains and DMARCeye
DMARCeye decodes Unicode and Punycode domain data in authentication reports to provide full visibility across internationalized and multilingual infrastructures. It helps organizations detect lookalike domains, unauthorized Unicode registrations, and spoofing attempts targeting global audiences.
By integrating Unicode domain awareness into its analytics, DMARCeye ensures that domain protection extends seamlessly to all scripts, languages, and regions worldwide.
Sign up for a free trial of DMARCeye today and secure your email domain.
To learn more about DMARC and DMARC-related terms, explore the DMARCeye Glossary.