Decode Punycode to Text
Convert ASCII Punycode (xn--) back to readable Unicode text or internationalized domain names.
Decodes segments starting with xn--
RFC Compliant
Accurate decoding following RFC 3492 and IDNA protocols for maximum reliability.
100% Client-Side
Your data never leaves your browser. Privacy is our top priority.
Fast & Simple
Intuitive interface designed for both quick checks and bulk processing.
Try These Examples
Punycode Domain
Decode a Punycode domain name back to its Unicode version.
Single Label
Decode a single Punycode string (without xn-- prefix).
Complex IDN
Decode a complex internationalized domain name.
Guide to Punycode Decoding and IDN
How Punycode Decoding Works
Punycode decoding is the reverse process of converting ASCII strings back into their original Unicode (non-ASCII) representation. This is essential for humans to read internationalized domain names that appear as xn-- in logs or system configurations.
Our decoder identifies the ACE prefix and applies the Punycode algorithm to reconstruct characters from various scripts including Cyrillic, Chinese, Arabic, and more.
When to Use a Punycode Decoder?
- Log Analysis: Decode domain names found in server access logs or network traffic captures.
- Security Audits: Verify the actual destination of suspicious "xn--" links to prevent homograph attacks.
- Development: Convert Punycode back to Unicode to ensure data is being stored and displayed correctly in your UI.
- SEO & Marketing: Read international domains used by competitors or for your own brand protection.
Punycode vs. URL Encoding
It's important to note that Punycode is not the same as URL encoding (percent-encoding). While URL encoding handles special characters like spaces or symbols in a URL path (e.g., %20), Punycode specifically handles non-ASCII characters in the domain name itself.
Example: In the URL https://münchen.de/search?q=café:
• münchen.de is converted via Punycode to xn--mnchen-3ya.de.
• café is converted via URL encoding to caf%C3%A9.