// If the input is encased in square braces "[...]", drop 'em.
    val inetAddressByteArray =
      (
        if (host.startsWith("[") && host.endsWith("]")) {
          decodeIpv6(host, 1, host.length - 1)
        } else {
          decodeIpv6(host, 0, host.length)
        }
      ) ?: return null

    val address = canonicalizeInetAddress(inetAddressByteArray)