The top-level domain (TLD) you are referring to is xn—fzc2c9e2c, which is an internationalized domain name (IDN) TLD. According to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), IDNs are domain names represented by local language characters. These TLDs allow internet users to access domain names in their own language, providing a more inclusive online environment.
The TLD xn—fzc2c9e2c, in particular, is the Punycode representation for the Sri Lankan TLD .ලංකා, which in Sinhalese script means “Lanka”. Punycode is a method for encoding a sequence of Unicode characters into ASCII, which is a smaller, restricted character set universally compatible with the internet and its domain name system, as stated by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in its RFC 3492.
Considering examples, if a company named “සම්පත්” wants to register a domain for a website, utilizing this TLD, they could have a domain name like “සම්පත්.ලංකා”. In Punycode, the domain would be represented something like xn—d9a8c.xn—fzc2c9e2c, recognizable and usable across the DNS infrastructure.
The IDNs have been a pivotal initiative in the internet world to eliminate language barriers and ensure a fair distribution of the world’s languages on the internet, as per ICANN’s IDN guidelines. The TLD in question, .ලංකා or xn—fzc2c9e2c, makes the internet more accessible for Sinhalese speakers in Sri Lanka and worldwide, can add a nationalistic touch to a company’s online presence, and facilitate improved engagement due to local language utilization.
The introduction of IDNs represents a significant step towards a multilingual and multicultural internet. However, these TLDs also present fresh challenges, such as the increased potential for phishing attacks because of the visual similarity between different IDN scripts. Therefore, it is important to educate users about the proper use of IDNs and cybersecurity measures.
Regarding sources that contributed towards providing this answer, information about TLDs, IDNs and their use was primarily derived from documents produced by ICANN, including the IDN guidelines. The Punycode encoding method and its compatibility with the internet were clarified through the IETF’s RFC 3492. Furthermore, potential issues and countermeasures related with IDN use were gleaned from academic articles and cybersecurity guidelines, including ICANN’s security and stability advisory committee’s advises.
