Glossary

Expiring

The registration ends within the next 45 days. The owner can still renew it at any time, so most expiring names are renewed.

Also called: expiring soon

Expired

Past the expiry date but still held by the registrar (renewal / auto-renew grace, usually up to 30–45 days). Registrars often sell such names in an expired auction before they are deleted.

Also called: expired auction, grace period

Redemption (RGP)

The registrar has deleted the name and the registry holds it for about 30 days (Redemption Grace Period). Only the previous owner can restore it, for a fee.

Also called: RGP, redemption period

Pending delete

The 5 days after redemption. The name can no longer be restored; it will drop at the end of this period.

Also called: pendingDelete

Dropping today

The registry deletes the name today. This is the time to place backorders with drop-catchers; when several people backorder the same name, it goes to a drop auction among them.

Also called: drop day, dropping

Drop

The moment the registry deletes a name and it becomes free to register again.

Also called: deletion

Backorder

An order with a drop-catching service to try to register the name the moment it drops. Usually you pay only if the name is caught.

Also called: drop catching, drop-catcher

Drop auction

When several customers backordered the same name and the drop-catcher caught it, the name goes to a short auction among them.

Also called: backorder auction

Available to register

Dropped (deleted) and nobody caught it at the drop. Anyone can register it at any registrar at the normal price (hand registration).

Also called: dropped, deleted, hand-reg

Auction

An aftermarket sale with bids, run by a registrar, a marketplace or the owner. A live auction is one that has not ended yet.

Also called: live auction, aftermarket

Closeout

An expired auction that ended without bids; the name is then offered at a low fixed price for a short time before deletion.

Also called: closeout auction

Buy now

The owner or a marketplace sells the name at a fixed price; it transfers to you after payment.

Also called: BIN, fixed price

Taken

Registered and in use, and not offered for sale as far as we know. Taken names stay in search for analysis (competitors, keywords, links).

Also called: registered

Obtainable

A name you can get now or soon: available to register, dropping, at auction, for sale or expiring. Search shows these first.

Domains in the database

Every domain name we track, with its status and history from zone files, drop lists, auctions, WHOIS / RDAP, the web archive and our own checks.