Unikey

Unikey is a widely used Vietnamese input method editor (IME) for Windows that enables users to type Vietnamese text in applications that do not natively support it. It converts sequences of Latin letters into Vietnamese characters with the correct diacritics, using common input schemes such as Telex and VNI.

The software supports multiple character encodings and works with both Unicode and legacy Vietnamese encodings. It can switch between encoding schemes and convert text between them, helping users migrate content or share text across different systems. Unikey is designed to be lightweight and fast, operating in the background with a system tray icon to toggle modes and apply hotkeys for quick input method changes.

Features commonly cited for Unikey include Telex and VNI input methods, configurable keyboard layouts, automatic diacritic placement, and convenient switching between input modes without changing the system keyboard layout. It is particularly popular in Vietnam and is used in educational, governmental, and business settings to facilitate Vietnamese typing across a wide range of software.

Origin and availability: Unikey was developed for Windows and has been maintained by a community of volunteers since its early days. Over time, it has inspired various forks and ports for other platforms created by community contributors, though Windows remains the primary supported environment. The project is widely regarded as a practical, accessible solution for Vietnamese text input.

See also: Vietnamese input method, Telex, VNI, Unicode.