🌍 Punycode / IDN Converter
Convert a Unicode domain (münchen.de) to its ASCII xn-- form and back — useful for DNS, email and spotting look-alike domains.
Unicode → ASCII (RFC 3492 / IDNA)
How the punycode / idn converter works
The Domain Name System only allows ASCII letters, digits and hyphens, so internationalised domain names (IDNs) with accents or non-Latin scripts are encoded with Punycode (RFC 3492): each affected label is transformed into an ASCII string and prefixed with xn--. The tool converts each dot-separated label — münchen.de becomes xn--mnchen-3ya.de — and decodes xn-- labels back to their original Unicode.
Punycode is also a security tool: attackers register look-alike domains using characters that resemble Latin letters (a Cyrillic "а" for a Latin "a"), and the only reliable way to see the real domain is its xn-- form. Decoding a suspicious xn-- domain here shows what it actually contains, on your device — no lookup, no tracking.
Frequently asked questions
What is Punycode?
The ASCII encoding (RFC 3492) that lets internationalised domain names with non-ASCII characters work in the DNS. Each affected label is converted and prefixed with xn--, e.g. münchen → xn--mnchen-3ya.
Why do some domains start with xn--?
That prefix marks a Punycode-encoded label — the ASCII representation of a domain containing accents or non-Latin characters. Your browser shows the Unicode version but sends the xn-- form to DNS.
How does this help spot phishing?
Look-alike (homograph) attacks use characters that resemble Latin letters. Decoding the domain's xn-- form reveals the real characters, so you can tell a genuine site from an impostor.
Does it convert whole domains or single labels?
Whole domains — it processes each dot-separated label independently, encoding only those with non-ASCII characters and leaving plain labels (like com) unchanged.
Is my domain uploaded?
No — the conversion runs locally in your browser with no DNS lookup, so nothing is transmitted.