The top-level domain (TLD) “XN—ZFR164B” is the ASCII compatible encoding (ACE) format of an internationalized domain name (IDN) “中国”, which is the Chinese word for China. The internationalized domain names (IDNs) enable internet users all over the world to access the web in their native language.
The Asian-Pacific TLD operator CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center) manages it. The TLD “XN—ZFR164B” itself falls under the group of Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs). As expressed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), precise management of ccTLDs is left to individual countries, and those assigned to countries or territories are outlined by ISO’s 3166-1 alpha-2 standard.
The utilization of the ACE format, starting with “XN—,” is a way for specifying and encoding IDNs in a manner that internet systems can comprehend and manage. Before these names are registered, they are first converted into ASCII-compatible encoding according to a specific algorithm defined in the Internationalizing Domain Names in Applications (IDNA) protocol.
It is crucial to mention that a fundamental principle from ICANN’s policy for IDN ccTLDs (known as the “Fast Track Process”) is that it must substantially represent in the DNS a meaningful representation of the name of the relevant territory or country listed in the ISO 3166-1.
The existence of such a specific TLD like “XN—ZFR164B” is one instance of the broader effort to make the internet more inclusive and accessible to individuals around the globe, irrespective of their native language or script. The policies and protocols surrounding IDNs and their domain names underscore ICANN’s mission to ensure the secure and stable operation of the internet’s distinct identifier systems.
As to end users, when they type in the regular in-script domain name “中国,” modern web browsers will use a system called “punycode” to convert it into the effective TLD “XN—ZFR164B” in the background.
Sources:
1. Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) 2010 Project, ICANN (https://archive.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/idn-vip-issues-report-05oct10-en.pdf)
2. ICANN’s Internationalized Domain Names (https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/idn-2012-02-25-en)
3. ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 – Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 1: Country codes (https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:CN)
4. Internet Link – CNNIC. (https://cnnic.com.cn/SciTech/rd/xmjs/200804/t20080425\_23942.htm)
