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Windows-1256
Windows-1256
Windows-1256
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Windows-1256
MIME / IANAwindows-1256
Alias(es)cp1256 (Code page 1256)
LanguagesArabic, Persian, Urdu, English, French (except capital letters with diacritics)
Created byMicrosoft
StandardWHATWG Encoding Standard
Classificationextended ASCII, Windows-125x

Windows-1256 is a code page used under Microsoft Windows to write Arabic and other languages that use Arabic script, such as Persian and Urdu.

This code page is neither compatible with ISO/IEC 8859-6 nor the MacArabic encoding.

Windows-1256 encodes every abstract single letter of the basic Arabic alphabet, not every concrete visual form of isolated, initial, medial, final or ligatured letter shape variants (i.e. it encodes characters, not glyphs). The Arabic letters in the C0-FF range are in Arabic alphabetic order, but some Latin characters are interspersed among them. These are some Windows-1252 Latin characters used for French, since this European language has some historic relevance in former French colonies in North Africa such as Morocco and Algeria. This allowed French and Arabic text to be intermixed when using Windows-1256 without any need for code-page switching (however, upper-case letters with diacritics were not included).

IBM uses code page 1256 (CCSID 1256, euro sign extended CCSID 5352, and the further extended CCSID 9448 for some letters used in modern Persian and Urdu) for Windows-1256.[1][2][3][4]

Unicode is preferred over Windows-1256 in modern applications, especially on the Internet, where the dominant UTF-8 encoding is most used for web pages, including for Arabic (see also Arabic script in Unicode, for complete coverage, unlike for e.g. Windows-1256 or ISO/IEC 8859-6 that do not cover extras). Less than 0.03% of all web pages use Windows-1256 in October 2022,[5][6] and while that encoding is mostly used for Arabic, and second-most popular for it, it is only used for 1.6% of the Arabic text on the web.

Character set

[edit]

Since the original code page left 9 byte values marked as "NOT USED" in the original specification (hexadecimal 0x80, 0x8A, 0x8F, 0x98, 0x9A, 0x9F, 0xAA, 0xC0, and 0xFF),[7] these bytes were used later for the euro sign, and for additional letters in the Perso-Arabic script (for the Persian and Urdu languages).[8]

The following table shows the extended version of Windows-1256. Each character is shown with its Unicode equivalent and its decimal code.

Here every Arabic letter is shown in isolated form. The actual forms of the letters inside Arabic words are rendered by a combination of software rules and appropriate font support.

Windows-1256[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
0x NUL SOH STX ETX EOT ENQ ACK BEL BS HT LF VT FF CR SO SI
1x DLE DC1 DC2 DC3 DC4 NAK SYN ETB CAN EM SUB ESC FS GS RS US
2x  SP  ! " # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . /
3x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 : ; < = > ?
4x @ A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O
5x P Q R S T U V W X Y Z [ \ ] ^ _
6x ` a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
7x p q r s t u v w x y z { | } ~ DEL
8x € پ ‚ ƒ „ … † ‡ ˆ ‰ ٹ ‹ Œ چ ژ ڈ
9x گ ‘ ’ “ ” • – — ک ™ ڑ › œ ZWNJ ZWJ ں
Ax NBSP ، ¢ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ § ¨ © ھ « ¬ SHY ® ¯
Bx ° ± ² ³ ´ µ · ¸ ¹ ؛ » ¼ ½ ¾ ؟
Cx ہ ء آ أ ؤ إ ئ ا ب ة ت ث ج ح خ د
Dx ذ ر ز س ش ص ض × ط ظ ع غ ـ ف ق ك
Ex à ل â م ن ه و ç è é ê ë ى ي î ï
Fx ً ٌ ٍ َ ô ُ ِ ÷ ّ ù ْ û ü LRM RLM ے
  Differences from Windows-1252

See also

[edit]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Windows-1256

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from Grokipedia
Windows-1256 is an 8-bit single-byte (code page) developed by for the Windows operating system, primarily designed to represent text in the language and script, as well as other languages using the , such as . It belongs to the Windows-125x family of code pages, which extend the ASCII standard to support various non-Latin scripts, and is officially identified by the code page number 1256 and the MIME name "windows-1256". The encoding was introduced with the Arabic versions of Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11, providing a means to handle Arabic characters in early multilingual Windows environments. Structurally, Windows-1256 allocates the first 128 code points (0-127) to match the ASCII character set for basic compatibility with English and other Latin-based text, while the upper 128 code points (128-255) are dedicated to letters, diacritics, , and other symbols specific to the . For example, it includes representations for core Arabic consonants and vowels, such as ل (lam, code 225) and م (mim, code 227), enabling right-to-left text rendering in legacy applications. Although effective for Arabic in its time, Windows-1256 has limitations, such as lack of full support for all variants and potential data corruption when mixed with other encodings on non-localized systems. now recommends Unicode-based encodings like or UTF-16 for modern , as they offer broader language coverage and portability without the regional variances of code pages.

Development and History

Origins

Windows-1256 was developed by in the early 1990s as an extension of the Windows-125x family of code pages, specifically to provide support for the within Windows operating systems. Introduced in with the Arabic-localized versions of and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 in 1993, this single-byte encoding was created to address the growing need for localized text handling in non-Latin scripts, building on the framework established for Western European languages in Windows-1252. The encoding's structure and rationale were outlined in Microsoft documentation for international software development. The primary motivation for Windows-1256 stemmed from the limitations of earlier DOS-era code pages, such as CP720, which offered only partial Arabic support and lacked comprehensive coverage for related languages using the Arabic script, including Persian and Urdu. Microsoft aimed to create a more robust, Windows-native solution that could accommodate the full range of characters required for these languages in graphical user interfaces, enabling better internationalization for Middle Eastern and South Asian markets. This shift was part of broader efforts to transition from command-line DOS environments to the multitasking capabilities of Windows, where consistent single-byte encodings were essential for application compatibility and user experience. To support bilingual scenarios common in regions with colonial French influence, Windows-1256 incorporated a selection of Latin characters borrowed from , facilitating mixed French-Arabic text in North African contexts such as and . This design choice ensured practicality for users in multilingual environments without requiring multiple encodings. assigned it the code page number 1256 for use in Arabic-localized versions of the operating system.

Standardization

Windows-1256 received formal recognition through its registration with the (IANA) on May 3, 1996, assigning it the name "windows-1256" and the alias "cp1256" for use in protocols and . This registration supported interoperability in early web and networking contexts, building on Microsoft's initial release of the encoding with Arabic versions of and Windows for Workgroups 3.11. In 2012, Windows-1256 was incorporated into the Encoding Standard to ensure consistent handling across web browsers, defining precise algorithms for decoding legacy content labeled with its name or aliases like "cp1256" and "x-cp1256". IBM adopted Windows-1256 for its legacy systems through multiple Coded Character Set Identifiers (CCSIDs), including 1256 for the base encoding, 5352 for the euro-extended version, and 9448 for further extensions supporting additional Perso-Arabic letters used in modern . These CCSIDs enable compatibility in IBM environments like and DB2, with 5352 adding the at 0x80 and 9448 incorporating characters such as the Arabic letter alef maksura (ى) at 0xFF. Post-1998 revisions to Windows-1256 included the addition of the euro sign (0x80) across Microsoft code pages to accommodate the introduction of the euro currency, while subsequent updates like the 2001 extension via IBM's CCSID 9448 incorporated extra Perso-Arabic letters for broader script coverage. Despite these adoptions, Windows-1256 has not achieved full ISO standardization, remaining a proprietary Microsoft extension primarily to ISO/IEC 8859-6 (Arabic), which it extends with additional characters and mappings for Windows environments.

Technical Specifications

Encoding Structure

Windows-1256 is an 8-bit single-byte encoding scheme that defines 256 code points, ranging from 0x00 to 0xFF. This structure allows each character to be represented by a single byte, facilitating efficient storage and processing in legacy systems, particularly for text in and related scripts. The lower 128 code points (0x00–0x7F) align directly with the ASCII standard, providing compatibility with basic Latin text and controls. Control characters occupy the range 0x00–0x1F. The range 0x80–0x9F includes printable characters such as letters (e.g., peh at 0x81, U+067E), symbols (e.g., at 0x80, U+20AC), and Perso-Arabic extensions. These support handling in contexts. The range 0xC0–0xDA primarily maps to letters in near-alphabetical order and encoded as abstract characters rather than contextual forms, such as the Arabic letter ALEF (U+0627) at 0xC7, BEH (U+0628) at 0xC8, and YEH (U+064A) at 0xED. This logical ordering supports standard and avoids the complexity of glyph shaping at the encoding level; shaping and bidirectional rendering are handled by the host operating system. The full range 0xC0–0xFF includes additional characters mixed with extended Latin letters and symbols. Overall, Windows-1256 exhibits a hybrid nature, allocating the majority of its extended code points (0x80–0xFF) to the , scripts—approximately 42% of the extended range (54 code points)—while reserving 10–20% for extended Latin characters and the remainder for and symbols to maintain compatibility with Latin-centric environments, such as a partial overlap with the Latin subset. Originally, the encoding included about 9 unused bytes in positions like 0x81 and 0x8A, which were later repurposed for additional characters without disrupting in updated implementations. This design balances script-specific needs with broader system integration.

Character Composition

Windows-1256, also known as Code Page 1256, primarily supports the , encoding the 28 basic letters of the Arabic alphabet in their logical forms, corresponding to code points from U+0621 ( Letter Hamza) to U+063A ( Letter Ghain), along with essential diacritics such as fatha (U+064E) and kasra (U+0650). These letters are represented without separate glyphs for contextual forms (initial, medial, final, or isolated variants), as the encoding focuses on abstract character identities, with shaping and bidirectional rendering handled by the host operating system. For instance, the letter alef (أ) is mapped at byte 0xC7 to U+0627. The encoding extends the core Arabic alphabet with Perso-Arabic characters to accommodate languages like Urdu and Persian, including specific letters such as rreh (ڑ, U+0691) at byte 0x9A for Urdu and gaf (گ, U+06AF) at byte 0x90 for Persian. Additional extensions in the Arabic block (U+0600–U+06FF) cover variant forms like peh (پ, U+067E) at 0x81, teh with ring (ٹ, U+0679) at 0x8A, and noon ghunna (ڼ, U+06BA) at 0x91, enabling representation of phonetic distinctions in South Asian and Iranian languages that derive from the Arabic script. In addition to Arabic script support, Windows-1256 incorporates a subset of Latin characters, including the basic English alphabet (A–Z at 0x41–0x5A and a–z at 0x61–0x7A) and selected accented letters borrowed from Windows-1252 for compatibility with Western European languages, such as small letter e with acute (é, U+00E9) at 0xE9 and small letter e with circumflex (ê, U+00EA) at 0xEA. The encoding also includes a range of symbols and punctuation marks tailored for Arabic typography, such as the Arabic comma (،, U+060C) at 0xA1 and the Arabic question mark (؟, U+061F) at 0xBF, alongside general-purpose symbols like the Euro sign (€, U+20AC) added in a post-1998 update at 0x80. Further Arabic-specific punctuation includes the tatweel (ـ, U+0640) at 0xC0 for word elongation. To facilitate right-to-left (RTL) text processing, it incorporates bidirectional control characters, notably the Right-to-Left Mark (RLM, U+200F) at 0xFE, which ensures proper display of mixed-script content. Overall, Windows-1256 defines mappings for approximately 223 characters, of which around 200 are printable, prioritizing and related scripts while providing limited Latin and symbolic support for multilingual environments in legacy Windows systems.

Mappings and Compatibility

Relation to Other Encodings

Windows-1256 is incompatible with ISO/IEC 8859-6, the for encoding, due to differing mappings for numerous characters in the extended range, which can result in or incorrect rendering without proper remapping. For instance, the byte 0xAC represents the (U+060C) in ISO/IEC 8859-6 but the not sign (¬, U+00AC) in Windows-1256, while 0xAA is unused in ISO/IEC 8859-6 but maps to the Arabic letter Heh Doachashmee (ھ, U+06BE) in Windows-1256. These variances, affecting , diacritics, and some letters, make direct file conversions between the two unsuitable for accurate text preservation. Windows-1256 shares partial overlap with MacArabic, Apple's legacy encoding for Arabic on Macintosh systems, in that both support core Arabic letters, but they differ significantly in assignments and Latin character coverage. MacArabic prioritizes Macintosh-specific extensions and lacks the full Latin-1 compatibility found in Windows-1256, leading to mismatches in symbol and punctuation placement. In relation to , the Western European encoding, Windows-1256 incorporates the same ASCII subset (0x00–0x7F) and some shared Latin characters in the extended range, but replaces many symbols and diacritics beyond 0x9F with Arabic-specific glyphs to accommodate needs. This makes Windows-1256 a specialized variant rather than a direct superset or subset of . Windows-1256 has no direct relation to EBCDIC-based encodings or the DOS code page 720 (CP720), an older OEM Arabic encoding for systems, as it was designed specifically as a superset for modern Windows applications handling mixed Latin and Arabic content. Key differences from these legacy encodings include Windows-1256's expanded support for Perso-Arabic characters (such as those used in ) and the inclusion of the (€, U+20AC) at 0x80, features absent in ISO/IEC 8859-6 and CP720, which underscores its adaptation for contemporary software environments. As a result, files encoded in Windows-1256 require explicit remapping when interfacing with ISO/IEC 8859-6-based systems to avoid . serves as a comprehensive superset encompassing all characters from Windows-1256.

Unicode Conversion

Windows-1256 provides a one-to-one bidirectional mapping to , where each of its 256 code points corresponds to a unique Unicode scalar value, primarily within the range U+0000 to U+06FF to support characters. This mapping ensures lossless round-trip conversion between the two encodings for all defined positions, with the first 128 code points (0x00–0x7F) aligning directly with ASCII (U+0000–U+007F) and the extended range (0x80–0xFF) covering Arabic letters, , and compatibility characters. Representative examples include the letter hamza at code point 0xC1 mapping to U+0621 (ARABIC LETTER HAMZA) and the Arabic letter reh—used in as well—at 0xD1 mapping to U+0631 (ARABIC LETTER REH). Similarly, the Arabic letter alef maksura at 0xEC maps to U+0649 (ARABIC LETTER ALEF MAKSURA). These mappings target logical character forms rather than presentation variants. Since Windows-1256 encodes characters in logical order without built-in presentation forms, conversion to Unicode retains this order, but rendering requires additional processing for right-to-left (RTL) directionality and glyph shaping. Unicode applications must apply the bidirectional algorithm (Unicode Standard Annex #9) for correct text direction and a shaping engine, such as Microsoft's Uniscribe or the open-source library, to generate appropriate joined s for display. Conversion from Windows-1256 to Unicode is facilitated by platform-specific APIs and libraries. On Windows systems, the MultiByteToWideChar function, invoked with code page identifier 1256, performs the mapping to UTF-16 wide characters. For cross-platform use, the (ICU) library offers robust conversion routines supporting Windows-1256 via its converter , ensuring compatibility in non-Microsoft environments. Certain edge cases arise from historical updates to the encoding; for instance, some code points like 0xFF, which may have been unassigned in earlier implementations, now map definitively to U+06D2 (ARABIC LETTER YEH BARREE) in the standardized table. The Encoding Standard also specifies algorithmic decoding for Windows-1256 in web contexts, promoting consistent handling.

Usage and Legacy

Applications in Software

Windows-1256 has been natively supported in Microsoft Windows operating systems starting from , enabling Arabic localization in core applications such as and . In these environments, the encoding serves as the ANSI for text, allowing users to create, edit, and display with proper right-to-left rendering and character mapping. For instance, [Microsoft Word](/page/Microsoft Word) includes Windows-1256 as an explicit encoding option when saving or opening files, ensuring compatibility for documents while associating it with fonts like Courier New. Similarly, , as a basic , leverages the system's ANSI code pages, including Windows-1256, to handle input and output without corruption in localized Windows installations. In email clients and legacy database systems, Windows-1256 played a key role for text storage and transmission prior to widespread adoption. , for example, recognizes Windows-1256 as a supported web encoding for handling content in emails and attachments, facilitating proper rendering in multilingual communications. In databases like SQL Server, the encoding was the standard for data in non-Unicode data types (such as char and ) in versions before SQL Server 2000, where collations relied on code page 1256 to store and sort text accurately while avoiding substitution with question marks. This setup was essential for -only applications, ensuring in regions like the . For web applications, Windows-1256 enabled legacy support in early Arabic websites through HTTP charset declarations, with browsers maintaining compatibility via standardized labels. The Encoding Standard defines "windows-1256" as a label for decoding and encoding bytes, allowing modern browsers like Chrome and to correctly interpret content from pre-Unicode era sites that specified this charset in meta tags or HTTP headers. Third-party software, including certain products and older systems in the , incorporated Windows-1256 for handling bilingual documents and regional data processing. , for instance, supports Windows-1256 in content headers for pages, enabling developers to output text in this encoding for compatibility with legacy web applications. In systems prevalent in MENA regions, the encoding was commonly used in older implementations for storing inventory descriptions, customer names, and reports, often integrated via Windows APIs or database exports. The use of Windows-1256 began to decline with the release of in 2001, as increasingly promoted and for broader multilingual support, though it remains available for file I/O compatibility in legacy scenarios. Applications are advised to migrate to to avoid inconsistencies across code pages, but Windows retains Windows-1256 decoding for in text file operations. systems also briefly reference it through CCSID 1256 mappings for cross-platform data exchange.

Current Status

As of November 2025, Windows-1256 is used by less than 0.1% of all websites with known character encoding, reflecting a significant decline in adoption driven by the dominance of UTF-8. This encoding persists primarily in legacy Arabic-script content, though its share remains minimal compared to modern standards. Its usage in 2025 is rare but continues in non-Unicode environments, such as older emails, PDFs, and regional software systems in areas like Iran and Pakistan where Persian and Urdu texts were historically encoded this way. Microsoft maintains support for backward compatibility in Windows environments, but no major updates to the encoding have occurred since the early 2000s. Migration to or full is strongly recommended for all new and existing content to ensure compatibility and avoid obsolescence, with tools like iconv facilitating batch conversions from Windows-1256. The (IANA) registers Windows-1256 but encourages ASCII and ISO 10646 () for new systems, underscoring its legacy status. Potential issues include mistranslation risks when processing mixed-script files lacking proper encoding detection, potentially leading to garbled characters in modern applications. Browsers support Windows-1256 via the Encoding Standard to handle such legacy content seamlessly.
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