# Homoglyphs

<figure><img src="/files/LsoaSU8Gqqhqc0TtLqI7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### What are Homoglyphs in PNS Domain Names?&#x20;

#### **Homoglyphs: Tricky Look-Alike Characters**

* Imagine you see two names: `vitalik.pls` and `vita‍lik.pls`. They look almost the same, right? But they're not! This trick is called using homoglyphs - characters that look similar but are actually different.

### **Why Homoglyphs Matter**

* When sending crypto or dealing with domain names, these look-alikes can be confusing. One might be real, and the other a fake.

### **How to Spot the Difference**

* **Using a Unicode Analyzer**: This is a [tool](https://www.fontspace.com/unicode/analyzer) that helps you see the hidden details in a name. It can show you if there's an invisible or different character.
* **Zero-Width Joiners**: These are invisible characters sometimes used in emojis. For example, a heart emoji might be made of a heart symbol plus a fire symbol, glued together by an invisible joiner.&#x20;
* **Variation Selectors**: These are used to change how emojis look, like making a heart red instead of black and white.

<figure><img src="/files/Sy415E7grc0KbhlSFydJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="danger" %}

### **Be Careful with .pls Names Outside the Official dApp**

* In PNS, variation selectors are removed to avoid confusion. But when dealing with domains outside the official app, these tricky characters can sneak in.
  {% endhint %}

### **Confusable Characters**

* Some characters look very similar, like the letter 'e' from different alphabets. These can be used to create names that look identical but are actually different.

### **What Can You Do?**

* **Use Warning Signs**: Many services will show warning symbols next to names with unusual characters.
* **Check Prices**: If a domain name looks too good to be true (like a popular name at a low price), it might be a fake. Always double-check by pasting it into the official dApp or via the [unicode analyzer](https://www.fontspace.com/unicode/analyzer).&#x20;

### **Managing Capitals and Numbers**

* In PNS, upper-case letters are turned into lower-case, and some numbers from different languages look the same but are different.

<br>

{% content-ref url="/pages/jglqArCd04sqY1Mhd7Cl" %}
[Domain Registration](/guides/domain-registration.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/oddx5MUnm1j6bEbqvraU" %}
[Updating Your Profile](/guides/updating-your-profile.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/nGsXt5sVj2Mhsxt6ooF7" %}
[Terminology](/terminology.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.pulse.domains/deep-dives/homoglyphs.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.