Understanding domain status codes

Those cryptic codes on a domain lookup — clientTransferProhibited, serverHold, pendingDelete — follow a simple, learnable pattern.

The naming pattern

Most codes follow the shape who + action + prohibited. The "who" is either client (your registrar set it) or server (the registry set it). So clientTransferProhibited means "the registrar has prohibited transfers," while serverDeleteProhibited means "the registry has prohibited deletion." Once you see the pattern, the codes read themselves.

The protective locks

The client prohibits — transfer, update, delete — are usually good. They're security locks, often applied by default, that stop a domain from being moved, changed, or deleted without you deliberately unlocking it. A domain showing all three is well-protected against hijacking.

The warning signs

Holds are the codes to worry about. clientHold and serverHold both remove the domain from DNS — the website and email stop resolving. A hold usually means an expired domain, unverified contact details, or a registry-level dispute. These need prompt attention.

The end-of-life sequence

When a domain expires, it moves through a sequence: a grace period, then redemptionPeriod (recoverable for a premium fee), then pendingDelete (past recovery), and finally it drops and becomes available to register again. Knowing where a domain sits in that sequence tells you whether it can still be saved.

See the full status-code reference → or check a domain live.