The top-level domain (TLD) “XN—O3CW4H” is also known as the Internationalized Country Code Top-Level Domain (IDN ccTLD) for Thailand, which in the locale’s native script is recognized as “.ไทย” (pronounced “dot Thai”). As such, this TLD is intended for linkage with websites that have a strong connection with Thailand, whether it be culturally, economically, or otherwise.
Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) are domain names or web addresses, represented in local language characters. These domain names could include characters with diacritical marks as required by many European languages, or characters from non-Latin scripts (for example, Arabic or Chinese). The desired outcome of this is to improve the international accessibility and functionality of the Internet by allowing users to register domain names in non-English languages.
To accommodate these non-Latin characters, the Punycode translation system is applied. Essentially, Punycode is a method added to the Domain Name System (DNS) in order to support non-ASCII characters within web addresses. “XN—O3CW4H” is the Punycode encoded ASCII-compatible representation of the “.ไทย” TLD.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organization tasked with ensuring the secure operation of the Internet’s global namespace, has implemented this system of Internationalized Domain Names in Applications (IDNA) to provide an effective and universal way to represent and process international characters. ICANN’s fundamental policy is to make the Internet’s naming system universally accessible, regardless of language or script.
In the case of Thailand, the “.th” TLD is used for domains intended for entities connected to this country. However, recognizing the need for a TLD in the native Thai script, the “.ไทย” TLD was proposed. The Thai Network Information Center Foundation initiated this process, with the proposal eventually receiving approval from ICANN.
Examples of websites operating under the “.ไทย” TLD include Thai government agencies, Thai businesses, and organizations such as the Thai Rath Newspaper (www.thairath.ไทย), Thai PBS (www.thaipbs.ไทย), etc.
Sources:
1. ICANN IDN Program, accessed May 25, 2021, https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/idn-2012-02-25-en
2. ICANN gTLD Registry Services, accessed May 25, 2021, https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/xn—o3cw4h-2015-06-16-en
3. Thai Network Information Center Foundation, accessed May 25, 2021, https://www.thnic.co.th/
4. The Punycode Home Page, by Adam M. Costello, accessed May 25, 2021, http://www.punycode.com/.
5. Website of Thai Rath Newspaper, accessed May 25, 2021, https://www.thairath.co.th/
6. Website of Thai PBS, accessed May 25, 2021, https://www.thaipbs.or.th/
