Unicode® 12.1.0
Version 12.1.0 has been superseded by the latest version of the Unicode Standard.
This page summarizes the important changes for the Unicode Standard, Version 12.1.0.
This version supersedes all previous versions of the Unicode Standard.
A. Summary
B. Technical Overview
C. Stability Policy Update
D. Textual Changes and Character Additions
E. Conformance Changes
F. Changes in the Unicode Character Database
G. Changes in the Unicode Standard Annexes
H. Changes in Synchronized Unicode Technical Standards
M. Implications for Migration
Unicode 12.1 adds exactly one character,
for a total of 137,929 characters.
The new character added to Version 12.1 is:
- U+32FF SQUARE ERA NAME REIWA
Version 12.1 adds that single character to enable software to be
rapidly updated to support the new Japanese era name in calendrical
systems and date formatting. The new Japanese era name was officially
announced on April 1, 2019, and is effective as of May 1, 2019.
Synchronization
Most of the Unicode Standard Annexes
remain published as they were for Version 12.0. They are incorporated
by reference into Version 12.1, with no changes to their text or dates of
publication. The single exception is UAX #42, which has been updated to
reflect the changes in the UCD in XML for Version 12.1.
This version of the Unicode Standard is identical to Unicode 12.0 except for the changes
necessary to accommodate the addition of the single new era name character.
See Sections D through H below for additional details regarding the changes in this version of
the Unicode Standard, its associated annexes, and the other synchronized Unicode specifications.
Version 12.1 of the Unicode Standard consists of:
- Version 12.0 of the core specification
- Version 12.1 of the code charts (delta and archival)
- Version 12.0 of the Unicode Standard Annexes (except UAX #42)
- Version 12.1 of UAX #42, “Unicode Character Database in XML”
- Version 12.1 of the Unicode Character Database (UCD)
The core specification gives the general principles,
requirements for conformance, and guidelines for implementers. The
code charts show representative glyphs for all the Unicode
characters. The Unicode Standard Annexes supply detailed normative
information about particular aspects of the standard. The Unicode
Character Database supplies normative and informative data for
implementers to allow them to implement the Unicode Standard.
The core specification is available as
a single pdf for viewing.
(14 MB)
Links are also available
in the navigation bar on the left of this page to access
individual chapters and appendices
of the core specification.
Several sets of code charts are available. They serve different
purposes:
- The latest set of code charts for the Unicode Standard is available online. Those charts are always the most current code charts available, and may be updated at any time. The charts are organized by scripts and blocks for easy reference. An online index by character name is also provided.
For Unicode 12.1.0 in particular two additional sets of code chart pages are provided:
- A set of delta code charts showing the block in which a character was added for Unicode 12.1.0. The new character is visually highlighted in the charts.
- A set of archival code charts that represents
the entire set of characters, names and representative glyphs at the time of publication of Unicode 12.1.0.
The delta and archival code charts are a stable part of this release of the Unicode Standard. They will never be updated.
Links to the individual
Unicode Standard Annexes are available in
the navigation bar on the left of this page. No changes
in the content of the Unicode Standard Annexes were made for Version 12.1, except for UAX #42.
Data files for Version 12.1 of
the Unicode Character Database are available. The ReadMe.txt in that directory provides a roadmap
to the functions of the various subdirectories.
Zipped versions of the UCD
for bulk download are available, as well.
Version 12.1.0 of the Unicode Standard
should be referenced as:
The Unicode Consortium. The Unicode Standard, Version 12.1.0, (Mountain View, CA: The Unicode Consortium,
2019. ISBN 978-1-936213-25-2)
http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode12.1.0/
The terms “Version 12.1” or “Unicode 12.1” are abbreviations for the full version reference, Version 12.1.0.
The citation and permalink for the latest published version of the Unicode Standard is:
The Unicode Consortium. The Unicode Standard.
http://www.unicode.org/versions/latest/
A complete specification of the contributory files for Unicode
12.1 is found on the page Components for 12.1.0.
That page also provides the recommended reference format for Unicode Standard Annexes. For examples of how to cite particular portions of the Unicode Standard, see also the Reference Examples.
No errata were incorporated into Unicode 12.1. For corrigenda and errata after the release of Unicode 12.1, see the list of current
Updates and Errata.
There were no significant changes to the Stability Policy of the core specification between Unicode 12.0 and Unicode 12.1.
No new
scripts were added in version 12.1.
No changes were made in the Unicode Standard Annexes, except for UAX #42, “Unicode Character Database in XML”.
Character Assignment Overview
1 character has been added.
For details, see delta code charts.
There are no significant new conformance requirements in Unicode 12.1.
The changes to the UCD for Version 12.1 are constrained to the minimum necessary to account
for the addition of single new charater, U+32FF. A new Age value was added for Version 12.1.
There were no changes made for the Unicode Standard Annexes for Version 12.1.
| Unicode Standard Annex |
Changes |
UAX #9
Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm
|
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#11
East Asian Width |
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#14
Unicode Line Breaking Algorithm |
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#15
Unicode Normalization Forms
|
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#24
Unicode Script Property
|
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#29
Unicode Text Segmentation |
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#31
Unicode Identifier and Pattern Syntax
|
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#34
Unicode Named Character Sequences |
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#38
Unicode Han Database (Unihan) |
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#41
Common References for Unicode Standard Annexes |
No changes in this version. |
UAX
#42
Unicode Character Database in XML |
Updated to account for the addition of Age=12.1. |
UAX
#44
Unicode Character Database |
No changes in this version. |
UAX #45
U-Source Ideographs |
No changes in this version. |
UAX #50
Unicode Vertical Text Layout |
No changes in this version. |
Minimal changes were made for the Unicode Technical Standards whose
versions are synchronized with the Unicode Standard. UTS #10, UTS #39, and UTS #46
were updated to 12.1, so that their data references correctly point to
12.1.0 data containing the newly added U+32FF. The emoji data files make
no reference to Japanese era name characters, so no update was required
for UTS #51 for 12.1.
| Unicode Technical Standard |
Changes |
UTS #10
Unicode Collation Algorithm |
Data files were updated to include U+32FF. There are no significant textual changes in
the specification. |
UTS #39
Unicode Security Mechanisms |
Data files were updated to include U+32FF. There are no significant textual changes in
the specification. |
UTS #46
Unicode IDNA Compatibility Processing |
Data files were updated to include U+32FF. There are no significant textual changes in
the specification. |
UTS #51
Unicode Emoji |
No changes in this version. |
The only change in Unicode 12.1 is the addition of the new Japanese era name U+32FF.
This character will impact some calendrical systems and date formatting which
use the ligated form U+32FF specifically (instead of a sequence of two unified CJK ideographs
to represent the new era name).
Normalization Changes
Note that U+32FF has a compatibility decomposition to a sequence of two
unified CJK ideographs. This addition will impact tables supporting Unicode
normalization.
![[Unicode]](http://www.unicode.org/webscripts/logo60s2.gif){kind=small}
Unicode
12.1.0