Is the scope of Unicode unchangeable for ever?

[Peter Constable]

The scope of what was considered _encodable character_ was enlarged when emoji were added since emoji are not simply text symbols but are full-blown graphic elements. But this was done _very reluctantly_ mainly out of a sense of necessity due to the need to operate with what mobile characters had already implemented. At the time, there was a broad consensus that a better architecture was for a higher-level protocol to support inline images.

You’ve been told multiple times over many years that certain things you’d like encoded are considered out of scope. Nothing has changed to suggest that UTC might want to consider proposals to expand scope.


Peter

From: Unicode <unicode-bounces at corp.unicode.org> On Behalf Of William_J_G Overington via Unicode
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 6:58 AM
To: unicode at corp.unicode.org
Subject: Is the scope of Unicode unchangeable for ever?


Is the scope of Unicode unchangeable for ever?





As in being guaranteed never to be changed as part of a stability guarantee or something like that?





Or could the scope be changed if the Unicode Technical Committee wanted to allow some items not presently regarded as being in scope to become regarded as being in scope?





Was the scope enlarged when emoji were encoded?





This question is being asked as a general question. Clearly this has arisen now because I have been informed that some items that I would like encoded into Unicode are out of scope, but I am wondering what is the general answer on whether the scope of what items can be encoded is locked into what was decided many years ago or could it become widened if the Unicode Technical Committee wanted to do that.





William Overington





Friday 10 May 2024




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