macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libidnlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install libidnMacPorts ports tree · mail/libidn/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install libidn with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
International domain name library. Version 1.44 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-18.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libidnAlpine Linux edge package indexes · libidn · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install idnDebian stable package indexes · idn · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install libidnFedora Rawhide package metadata · libidn · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libidnnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libidn/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libidnArch Linux sync databases · libidn · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libidn-developenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libidn-devel · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
International domain name library
Project links
Commands and aliases
- idn
history
Project history and usage
GNU Libidn is the original GNU implementation of internationalized-domain-name handling for the IDNA2003 era, with Stringprep, Nameprep, Punycode, and related TLD validation APIs.
Project history
Libidn started as an implementation of the IETF IDN working group's Stringprep and IDNA work. The GNU manual's history section records version 0.0.0 on 2002-11-05 with Stringprep support, version 0.1.0 on 2003-01-05 with IDNA and Punycode support, and version 0.1.11 on 2003-02-26 with a command-line interface.
The March 2003 IDNA RFCs standardized the ASCII-compatible encoding approach that let applications represent non-ASCII domain labels through ASCII DNS labels beginning with the xn-- prefix. Libidn turned that standards stack into a reusable C library and command-line tool.
The manual records a GNU libc add-on proposal in March 2003 and integration in March 2004. The project page notes Fedora Core 3 included Libidn 0.5.6 in November 2004, and that version 1.0 was released on 2007-07-31 to mark stable status after production use.
Adoption history
Libidn spread through network clients and authentication-related software that needed to accept internationalized names while still speaking ASCII DNS or protocol internals. The GNU project page names GNU SASL and Shishi as users for processing user names and passwords.
After IDNA2008 replaced the IDNA2003 standards, Libidn remained important for compatibility with older software and older protocol behavior, while GNU Libidn2 became the successor implementation for IDNA2008 and TR46.
How it is used
The idn command converts domain names to and from ASCII Compatible Encoding, and the library exposes Stringprep, Punycode, IDNA, and TLD APIs for applications that need deterministic internationalized-name handling.
Why package nerds care
Libidn is a standards-history package: it ties DNS, Unicode 3.2-era string preparation, Punycode, application compatibility, and distro policy into one small dependency. Package maintainers often encounter it when deciding whether old software needs IDNA2003 compatibility or can move to libidn2.
Its glibc add-on history also makes it a useful example of how networking behavior can move between optional libraries, libc, and application-level dependencies.
Timeline
- 2002: Version 0.0.0 released with Stringprep implementation.
- 2003: Version 0.1.0 added IDNA and Punycode and became part of the GNU project.
- 2003: Version 0.1.11 added the command-line interface.
- 2004: GNU libc add-on integration recorded by the Libidn manual.
- 2007: Version 1.0 released to mark stable status.
Related projects
- GNU Libidn2 is the successor for IDNA2008 and TR46.
- RFC 3490, RFC 3491, RFC 3492, and RFC 3454 are the main IDNA2003-era standards behind the package.
- GNU SASL and Shishi are named GNU consumers in the project documentation.
Sources
- https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/rfc3490/
- https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
- https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/manual/html_node/History.html
- https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/manual/libidn.html
- https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc3454
- https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc3491
- https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc3492
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
idn | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.44
manager updated2026-06-18
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:libidn |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.44 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libidn |
| Homepage | https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/ |
| Repository | https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/libidn.git |
| Upstream docs | https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/manual/libidn.html |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later OR LGPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/gnu/libidn/libidn-1.44.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-18T00:35:02Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | libidn |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
idn 1.43-1
Command line interface to GNU Libidn
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo apt install idn- Section: misc
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libidn
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
Debian apt95%
libidn-dev 1.43-1
Development files for GNU Libidn, an IDN library
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo apt install libidn-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libidn
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
Debian apt95%
libidn12 1.43-1
GNU Libidn library, implementation of IETF IDN specifications
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo apt install libidn12- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libidn
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
Nix95%
libidn
nix profile install nixpkgs#libidn- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
Ubuntu apt95%
idn 1.42-1build1
Command line interface to GNU Libidn
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo apt install idn- Section: universe/misc
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libidn
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
Ubuntu apt95%
libidn-dev 1.42-1build1
Development files for GNU Libidn, an IDN library
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo apt install libidn-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libidn
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
Ubuntu apt95%
libidn11-dev 1.42-1build1
Transitional development package for GNU Libidn
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo apt install libidn11-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libidn
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
Ubuntu apt95%
libidn12 1.42-1build1
GNU Libidn library, implementation of IETF IDN specifications
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo apt install libidn12- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libidn
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
apk95%
libidn 1.43-r0
Encode/Decode library for internationalized domain names
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn
sudo apk add libidn- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libidn
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
apk95%
libidn-dev 1.43-r0
Encode/Decode library for internationalized domain names (development files)
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn
sudo apk add libidn-dev- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libidn
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
apk95%
libidn-doc 1.43-r0
Encode/Decode library for internationalized domain names (documentation)
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn
sudo apk add libidn-doc- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libidn
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
dnf95%
libidn 1.43-4.fc44
Internationalized Domain Name support library
http://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo dnf install libidn- License: (LGPL-3.0-or-later OR GPL-2.0-or-later) AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND GFDL-1.3-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libidn
- 3 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
dnf95%
libidn-devel 1.43-4.fc44
Development files for the libidn library
http://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo dnf install libidn-devel- License: (LGPL-3.0-or-later OR GPL-2.0-or-later) AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND GFDL-1.3-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libidn
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
dnf95%
libidn-java 1.43-4.fc44
Java port of the GNU Libidn library
http://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo dnf install libidn-java- License: (LGPL-3.0-or-later OR GPL-2.0-or-later) AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND GFDL-1.3-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: libidn
- 1 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
dnf95%
libidn-javadoc 1.43-4.fc44
Javadoc for libidn-java
http://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo dnf install libidn-javadoc- License: (LGPL-3.0-or-later OR GPL-2.0-or-later) AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND GFDL-1.3-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: libidn
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
pacman95%
libidn 1.43-1
Implementation of the Stringprep, Punycode and IDNA specifications
https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/
sudo pacman -S libidn- License: GPL3 AND LGPL
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libidn
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment