emoji domain
{{Short description|Internationalized domain name containing Punycoded emoji}}
An emoji domain is a domain name with one or more emoji in it, for example 😉.{{Abbr|tld|Top-level domain|style=text-decoration:none;}}.
{{Contains special characters|emoticon}}
== Function ==
With the exception of the information emoji ({{char|ℹ}}), the trademark emoji ({{char|™️}}) and the "m" emoji ({{char|Ⓜ️}}),{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} for an emoji to work as a domain name, it must be converted into so-called "Punycode". Punycode is a character encoding method used for internationalized domain names (IDNs). This representation is used when registering domains containing special characters. The ASCII representation starts with the prefix "xn--" and is followed by the emoji-containing domain name encoded as Punycode; for example, "xn--i-7iq" is "i❤" when converted back to Unicode.
Each emoji has a unique Punycode representation. For example, "😉" in an IDN is represented as "xn--n28h". There are several generators on the Internet that allow one to convert emoji to Punycode and back.{{cite web |url=https://www.punycoder.com/ |title=Punycode converter |work=Punycoder |access-date=31 August 2017 |archive-date=11 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911012236/https://www.punycoder.com/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.charset.org/punycode |title=Punycode Converter |work=Charset.org |access-date=31 August 2017 |archive-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902012005/https://www.charset.org/punycode |url-status=live }}
Availability and registration
{{As of|2022|04|df=}}, there are 11 top-level domains for which emoji domain registration is possible: .cf,{{Cite web|url=https://www.freenom.com/en/support.html#f|title=Freenom, a name for everyone, FAQ #6|website=freenom.com|language=en|access-date=2021-12-10|archive-date=2021-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119190904/https://freenom.com/en/support.html#f|url-status=live}} .fm,{{Cite web|url=https://dot.fm/emoji/|title=dotFM - The .FM Top-Level Domain Registry, Emoji Domains|website=dot.fm|language=en|access-date=2021-12-10|archive-date=2021-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209224333/http://dot.fm/emoji/|url-status=live}} .ga, .gq, .kz, .ml, .st, .tk, .to,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tonic.to/faq.htm#20|title=Tonic, FAQ #20|website=tonic.to|language=en|access-date=2021-12-10|archive-date=2021-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210173653/https://www.tonic.to/faq.htm#20|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Tracy |first=Phillip |date=15 August 2017 |title=This website reveals the exorbitant price of an emoji domain |work=The Daily Dot |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/emoji-domain-cost/ |access-date=8 September 2022}} .uz, and .ws;{{cite web |title=Emoji Domains |url=https://www.worldsite.ws/idn/emoji.dhtml |website=.WS Internationalized Domain Names |access-date=1 April 2022 |archive-date=26 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426190154/https://www.worldsite.ws/idn/emoji.dhtml |url-status=live }} as well as 12 second-level domains: .radio.am,{{Cite web|url=https://www.radio.fm/Emoji/|title=Emoji dotRADIO am/fm|website=radio.fm|language=en|access-date=2022-04-23|archive-date=2021-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717134227/http://radio.fm/emoji/|url-status=live}} .radio.fm, .co.il, .org.il, .biz.ua,{{Cite web|url=https://nic.ua/en/domains/.biz.ua|title=Domain .BIZ.UA registration|website=nic.ua|language=en|access-date=2021-12-12|archive-date=2021-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212132841/https://nic.ua/en/domains/.biz.ua|url-status=live}} .co.ua,{{Cite web|url=https://nic.ua/en/domains/.co.ua|title=Domain .CO.UA registration|website=nic.ua|language=en|access-date=2021-12-12|archive-date=2021-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212132838/https://nic.ua/en/domains/.co.ua|url-status=live}} .pp.ua,{{Cite web|url=https://nic.ua/en/domains/.pp.ua|title=Domain .PP.UA registration|website=nic.ua|language=en|access-date=2021-12-12|archive-date=2021-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210211243/https://nic.ua/en/domains/.pp.ua|url-status=live}} .co.uz, .com.uz, .com.ws, .net.ws, and .org.ws.
The registration of an emoji domain can be more difficult than with normal domain names using only ASCII characters, since it is sometimes not possible to enter emoji into the online registration forms of domain name registrars, and instead the Punycode representation must be entered.
The availability of an emoji domain can be verified by using an emoji domain search engine{{Cite web|url=https://xn--i-7iq.ws/|title=Emoji Domain Registration|website=i❤️.ws 🔍|language=en|access-date=2020-06-27|archive-date=2020-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622161101/https://xn--i-7iq.ws/|url-status=live}} or by checking the WHOIS data of the punycoded domain.
History
At least four emoji domains were created on April 19, 2001: [https://xn--84h.com ☻.com] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819231234/https://xn--84h.com/ |date=2022-08-19 }}) (xn--84h.com),{{Cite web |title=Whois Lookup Captcha |url=https://whois.domaintools.com/xn--84h.com |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=whois.domaintools.com |archive-date=2022-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415120648/https://whois.domaintools.com/xn--84h.com |url-status=live }} ♨️.com (xn--j6h.com), ♨️.net (xn--j6h.net), and ☮️.com (xn--v4h.com).{{cite web|last1=Cyger|first1=Michael|title=The Definitive Guide to Emoji Domains|url=https://www.dnacademy.com/emoji-domains|date=7 April 2017|publisher=DNAcademy|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=2 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902003425/https://www.dnacademy.com/emoji-domains|url-status=live}} In 2005, ♌️.com (xn--q5h.com) was registered.{{Cite web |url=https://whois.domaintools.com/xn--q5h.com |title=♌.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools |access-date=2022-01-30 |archive-date=2022-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130075534/https://whois.domaintools.com/xn--q5h.com |url-status=live}}
On 9 September 2003, https://I♥You.com (xn--iyou-5u3b.com), https://I♥.com (xn--i-n3p.com), I❤️You.com and over a thousand other emoji domains were registered by Menno de Ruiter for the first emoji project on the internet in conjunction with the two principal programmers for the Punycode/IDN project at VeriSign and Galcomm ICANN registrar in Israel. {{Cite web |url=https://whois.domaintools.com/xn--iyou-5u3b.com |title=I♥You.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools}}
Cabel Sasser of Panic created 💩.la (xn--ls8h.la), "The World's First Emoji Domain", on April 13, 2011.{{cite web|title=The World's First Emoji Domain|url=https://panic.com/blog/the-worlds-first-emoji-domain/|website=Panic Blog|publisher=Panic|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=2 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902004345/https://panic.com/blog/the-worlds-first-emoji-domain/|url-status=live}} In February 2015, Coca-Cola used a domain name containing a smiley emoji in an advertising campaign aimed at mobile users in Puerto Rico.{{cite news|last1=Nudd|first1=Tim|title=Coke Spreads Happiness Online With Emoji Web Addresses|url=http://www.adweek.com/creativity/coca-cola-spreads-happiness-online-first-emoji-web-addresses-163044/|access-date=2 September 2017|website=AdWeek|date=19 February 2015|archive-date=3 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903062848/http://www.adweek.com/creativity/coca-cola-spreads-happiness-online-first-emoji-web-addresses-163044/|url-status=live}} A 2018 survey of the .ws TLD recorded approximately 25,000 registered emoji domains.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Paddy|title=Emoji Domains Are the Future (Maybe)|url=https://gizmodo.com/emoji-domains-are-the-future-maybe-1823319626|access-date=4 March 2018|website=Gizmodo|date=2 February 2018|archive-date=4 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304070307/https://gizmodo.com/emoji-domains-are-the-future-maybe-1823319626|url-status=live}}
On June 26, 2020, an online collective called It Is What It Is employed the 👁️👄👁️.fm (xn--mp8hai.fm) emoji domain to raise money for various social justice causes.{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Adam|title=Why Everyone Is Talking About a Strange Face Emoji |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/face-emoji-twitter-it-is-what-it-is-promo-a9587351.html |access-date=27 June 2020 |newspaper=The Independent |date=26 June 2020 |archive-date=27 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627225859/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/face-emoji-twitter-it-is-what-it-is-promo-a9587351.html |url-status=live}} The viral campaign, which relied on people's fear of missing out, caused thousands of Twitter users to post both the emoji domain and the phrase "It Is What It Is" in hopes of getting access to a rumored exclusive social network.{{cite news|last1=Armstrong |first1=Paul |title=What Is 👁️👄👁️? Oh, It Is What It Is. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2020/06/26/what-is--oh-it-is-what-it-is/#57920cdd3564 |access-date=27 June 2020 |work=Forbes |date=26 June 2020 |archive-date=27 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627175759/https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2020/06/26/what-is--oh-it-is-what-it-is/#57920cdd3564 |url-status=live}}{{unreliable source|date=March 2022}} In the end, It Is What It Is turned out to be a hoax designed to redirect attention to social issues; it ultimately raised over $200,000 and was featured in Wired,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/eye-mouth-eye/|title=The 'Eye Mouth Eye' Debacle Sums up Tech's Race Issues|magazine=Wired|last1=Pardes|first1=Arielle|access-date=2022-03-22|archive-date=2021-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801230938/https://www.wired.com/story/eye-mouth-eye/|url-status=live}} Forbes, Business Insider,{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/it-is-what-it-is-eyemoutheye-emoji-mystery-app-twitter-2020-6|title=A group of young techies is behind '👁👄👁,' a mysterious meme that succeeded in getting Tech Twitter to donate to Black Lives Matter charities and clamor for invites to an app that doesn't exist|website=Business Insider|access-date=2022-03-22|archive-date=2022-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322064044/https://www.businessinsider.com/it-is-what-it-is-eyemoutheye-emoji-mystery-app-twitter-2020-6|url-status=live |first1= Paige |last1=Leskin |first2=Graham |last2=Starr}} The Verge,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/27/21305646/it-is-what-it-is-fake-app-twitter-tiktok-meme |title=It Is What It Is: A fake app hyped on Twitter turned into a fundraiser for racial justice causes|date=27 June 2020|access-date=22 March 2022|archive-date=22 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322064405/https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/27/21305646/it-is-what-it-is-fake-app-twitter-tiktok-meme|url-status=live |website=The Verge |last=Lyons |first=Kim}} and Gizmodo,{{Cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/this-group-got-tech-twitter-hyped-on-an-app-that-doesnt-1844190726|title=This Group Got Tech Twitter Hyped on an App That Doesn't Exist to Raise Money for BLM Charities|date=27 June 2020 |access-date=2022-03-22|archive-date=2022-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322064405/https://gizmodo.com/this-group-got-tech-twitter-hyped-on-an-app-that-doesnt-1844190726|url-status=live|website=Gizmodo |last=Stanley |first=Alyse}} among other publications.{{cite web|title=What It Really Is |url=https://xn--mp8hai.fm/statement |website=It Is What It Is |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-date=27 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627065626/https://xn--mp8hai.fm/statement |url-status=live}}
In August 8, 2023, Cloudflare announced support for emoji domains. {{Cite web |last=Walshy |title=Support for emoji characters in custom domain for pages? |url=https://community.cloudflare.com/t/support-for-emoji-characters-in-custom-domain-for-pages/542325 |access-date=14 June 2024 |website=Cloudflare Community}}
Issues
Support among domain name registrars for emoji domains is limited.{{cite news|last1=Dewey|first1=Caitlin|title=The surprisingly complex reason you never see emoji URLs|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/02/23/the-surprisingly-complex-reason-you-never-see-emoji-urls/|access-date=24 September 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=23 February 2015|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929184136/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/02/23/the-surprisingly-complex-reason-you-never-see-emoji-urls/|url-status=live}}
It has been speculated that emoji domains, especially on mobile devices, may be used to lure victims into phishing scams.{{cite web |last1=Vining |first1=Olivia |title=Threat Announcement: Phishing Sites Detected on Emoji Domains |url=https://info.phishlabs.com/blog/threat-announcement-phishing-sites-detected-on-emoji-domains |website=PhishLabs |date=12 October 2018 |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101223317/https://info.phishlabs.com/blog/threat-announcement-phishing-sites-detected-on-emoji-domains |url-status=live }}
Another problem is that emojis can look different depending on the operating system, applications, and fonts used.{{cite web|author1=ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee|title=SAC095: SSAC Advisory on the Use of Emoji in Domain Names|url=https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/sac-095-en.pdf|website=ICANN|access-date=31 August 2017|language=en|date=25 May 2017|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701205428/https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/sac-095-en.pdf|url-status=live}} Not all browsers support emoji domains. On Google Chrome and Firefox, emojis display as Punycode in the address bar. However, in Safari, emoji are visible in the address bar. Emoji domains are also visible in Google and Bing search results.{{cite web|title=Emoji domains and SEO|url=https://medium.com/@Emoji_Domains/emoji-domains-and-seo-56045409bfb6|website=Medium|date=15 September 2017|publisher=Domain Research Group|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925035358/https://medium.com/@Emoji_Domains/emoji-domains-and-seo-56045409bfb6|url-status=live}}
There are also issues with using emoji domains in social media. While they are well supported on Twitter and LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram have imposed serious restrictions. Similarly, support varies on messaging platforms.{{cite news|last1=Harrison|first1=John|title=How to use emoji domains on social|url=https://artplusmarketing.com/how-to-use-your-emoji-domain-on-social-8e8bfc0f6e6a|access-date=2 September 2017|publisher=ART + Marketing|archive-date=10 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510024054/https://artplusmarketing.com/how-to-use-your-emoji-domain-on-social-8e8bfc0f6e6a?gi=3bbb2f282493|url-status=live}}
As of now, only Punycode encoding is advised in e-mail addresses,{{Cite web |title=Registering an emoji domain – the way forward or just a gimmick? |url=https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/domains/domain-news/registering-an-emoji-domain-does-it-make-sense/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=IONOS Digitalguide |date=14 July 2017 |language=en}} e.g. "mail@xn--n28h.tld", as {{Citation needed span|text=many Mail Transport Agents and Mail User Agents do not support|date=October 2024}} SMTPUTF8{{cite journal|title=RFC 6531 - SMTP Extension for Internationalized Email|year=2012 |doi=10.17487/RFC6531 |url=https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6531#section-3.2|access-date=2020-01-10|archive-date=2015-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218034315/https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6531#section-3.2|url-status=live|last1=Yao |first1=J. |last2=Mao |first2=W. |url-access=subscription}} which would allow SMTP commands with non-ASCII characters. Currently, Gmail automatically converts emoji domains in e-mail addresses into punycode which allows sending emails to emoji domain addresses, while Outlook throws an error if the address is not written in punycode.
Emoji subdomains
Emoji subdomains are like normal subdomains, except that they begin with emoji. Emoji subdomains are possible with many popular TLDs, including .com. As with any other emoji domain, emoji subdomains have to be converted into Punycode and can then be used as regular subdomains. Thus, domain combinations like 👍.example.org (xn--yp8h.example.org) are possible. This allows a wide scope of emoji domains outside of ccTLDs.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}