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 code | Domain active | Meaning |
| ok | Yes | The domain is in use and working. |
| addPeriod | Yes | The domain was just recently registered. |
| clientTransferProhibited | Yes | To avoid unauthorized domain transfers, the domain is locked. |
| PendingTransfer | Yes | The domain transfer request is being processed. |
| clientHold | No | The domain is either suspended or awaiting verification. |
| ServerHold | No | The domain is suspended |
| redemptionPeriod | No | The domain has passed its waiting period and expired, if applicable. |
| pendingDelete | No | The domain will be available for registration again in a few days after it expired. |
