Beta Review Status

 

Note: Currently there is no alpha or beta review. Preview releases for Unicode Version 17.0 will be available early in 2025.

Unicode Version 17.0.0

The next version of the Unicode® Standard will be Version 17.0.0, tentatively planned for release in September 2025. This page serves as notice to implementers about the dates when review and feedback will be requested for the alpha and beta phases. Dates for the alpha and beta review periods will be announced later this fall or early in 2025.

Core Specification

The core specification will be updated for Version 17.0.0. Feedback can be provided using the contact form.

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Explanation of Terminology

Each update of the Unicode Standard goes through two rounds of public review: first an alpha review and then a beta review. This section briefly describes what can be expected during each of those phases and what public review should focus on.

Alpha Review

The alpha review phase aims at review of new character repertoire expected for the release. The scope of the repertoire is reasonably firm, but may yet be subject to revision. Review should focus on the proposed characters, code points, names, and representative glyphs, and the UTC can still consider suggestions to remove repertoire, change character names, and so forth.

During alpha review a set of delta code charts is provided, highlighting all new repertoire additions, as well as significant glyph changes proposed for the release. Preliminary data files for the Unicode Character Database (UCD) are also provided, but those files are usually not yet complete. While feedback on any character property problems is welcome, that is not the main focus of the alpha review.

Beta Review

The beta review phase aims at review of character property data and any algorithmic changes which may impact implementations of the new release. Character repertoire has been established, and can be considered stable at this point. Additions or removals of characters are very unlikely before release. The code points and names of new characters are also no longer subject to revision.

A complete set of data files for the UCD, as well as data for UTS #10, UTS #39, UTS #46, and UTS #51 (emoji) is provided during beta review. Implementers should be checking this new data and report on any problems or inconsistencies discovered. All other assets planned for release are also updated for the beta review, including the preliminary code charts and all the annexes. Feedback on those other assets is also welcome during beta review.