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How to Use WHOIS for Checking the Status of a Domain

The WHOIS directory is a publicly accessible internet database that includes information on domain name registration, including contact details, nameservers, registration and expiration dates, and more.

To find out a domain’s WHOIS details, use one of the many web tools available to you. This is how the outcome should appear; take note of the domain status field:

One or more statuses that can be divided into two sizable categories will be shown to you:

  • Active: The domain is in use.
  • Inactive: For any reason, such as suspension, expiration, etc., the domain is not available for use.

The most common statuses and their meanings are listed in detail below:

Status codeDomain activeMeaning
okYesThe domain is in use and working.
addPeriodYesThe domain was just recently registered.
clientTransferProhibitedYesTo avoid unauthorized domain transfers, the domain is locked.
PendingTransferYesThe domain transfer request is being processed.
clientHoldNoThe domain is either suspended or awaiting verification.
ServerHoldNoThe domain is suspended
redemptionPeriodNoThe domain has passed its waiting period and expired, if applicable.
pendingDeleteNoThe domain will be available for registration again in a few days after it expired.
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