The top-level domain (TLD) xn—1ck2e1b is a Punycode representation of one of the Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) TLDs. Punycode is a method that was decided by Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to represent the Unicode strings by ASCII strings which support a limited number of characters. It’s used to convert non-latin IDN TLDs into an ASCII character set, which could be recognized by DNS (Domain Name System).
The xn—1ck2e1b code represents the .コム (dot Komu) Japanese TLD. In Punycode representation, the “xn—” is a standard prefix, and the characters that follow are specific to the domain. This system allows IDNs to be represented in ASCII format, ensuring compatibility with existing internet infrastructure.
The .コム (xn—1ck2e1b) domain comes under the category of gTLDs (generic top-level domains) that Verisign provides. Verisign provides internet infrastructure and services and manages several TLDs, including .com and .net. In 2016, it expanded its domain name services to offer .コム – an equivalent of the .com TLD but in Japanese characters.
Notably, xn—1ck2e1b is not just randomly created; it’s an excellent example of the internet’s adaptation to the global diversity of language and script. This unique TLD enables Japanese businesses, individuals, and organizations to have their website address in their native script, opening the internet world to a whole new set of users.
An example of a site using this domain is the Japanese site of Verisign itself: ベリサイン.コム (https://xn—1ck2e1b.xn—1ck2e1b/). Navigate to this website to see that it is an actual, functional webpage.
As for the authorities on this matter, documentation from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) provides a plethora of information on Punycodes and IDNs. Verisign’s publications and website information also serve as a valuable resource.
Sources:
1. VeriSign Introduces New IDN TLD, .コム (https://blogs.verisign.com/blog/top-level-domain-blog/verisign-introduces-new-idnatldnatndn-komu-domain-names-now-available-for-registration/)
2. RFC 3492 – Punycode: A Bootstring encoding of Unicode for Internet Domain Names (https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3492)
3. ICANN – Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) (https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/idn-2012-02-25-en)
4. Verisign’s Japanese site (https://xn—1ck2e1b.xn—1ck2e1b/).
