Who is who in a domain registration
Domain dashboards mix terms from three layers: you, the company you pay, and the operator of the extension. Getting them straight tells you who to contact when something breaks and which rules protect you. The definitions below are drawn from ICANN pages read on 30 October 2026 and apply to generic top-level domains (gTLDs) such as .com, .org and .net. Country-code domains such as .uk follow their own registry's rules.
| Term | Plain definition | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| Registrant (registered name holder) | The person or organization that holds the domain. | ICANN says you assume sole responsibility for the registration and its use. |
| Registrar | An ICANN-accredited company that sells gTLD registrations and has direct access to the registries. | Your contract, renewal price and transfer process are all with the registrar. |
| Registry (registry operator) | The organization that runs a top-level domain, such as .com. | It applies statuses like serverHold and completes transfers. |
| Reseller | A company that sells a registrar's domains under its own brand. | ICANN's expiry policy says reseller websites must also display renewal and redemption fees. |
| Registration Agreement | Your contract with the registrar. | ICANN says you may review and download it at any time; it governs renewals and disputes. |
| RAA (Registrar Accreditation Agreement) | The contract between ICANN and each registrar. | It sets out duties for both ICANN and the registrar; your own contract is the separate Registration Agreement. |
| gTLD and ccTLD | Generic extensions (.com) versus country-code extensions (.de, .uk). | ICANN's transfer and expiry rules in this guide apply to gTLDs. |
Transfer terms
| Term | Plain definition | Rule or number |
|---|---|---|
| Auth code (AuthInfo, EPP or transfer code) | A password that proves you may move the domain to another registrar. | Registrars without self-service must provide it within 5 calendar days. |
| Transfer lock (clientTransferProhibited) | A status that tells the registry to reject transfer requests. | Registrars must give you a reasonable way to remove it. |
| Change of Registrant | A change to the registrant name, organization or email. | Triggers a 60-day lock on registrar transfers unless you opted out beforehand. |
| 60-day windows | Periods after creation or a previous transfer when a transfer may be refused. | 60 days after registration; 60 days after a previous transfer. |
| pendingTransfer | Status shown while a transfer request is being processed. | Completes by default if the old registrar does not object within 5 calendar days. |
| transferPeriod | A grace period after a successful transfer. | Shown as an EPP status on the domain. |
| Transfer Complaint | A complaint you file with ICANN when a transfer is wrongly blocked. | Listed in ICANN's FAQ for domain name holders. |
Expiration timeline: what happens after a missed renewal
ICANN's Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP) and its EPP status code guide set the minimum protections. Your registrar can be more generous, and the exact number of days between expiry and deletion varies by registrar, which is why ICANN requires registrars to publish renewal, post-expiration renewal and redemption fees on their website. Read that fee page now, not on the day your domain lapses. ICANN's ERRP page also notes that an updated version of the policy was published on 21 February 2024, so check it for current wording.
- If you turn on auto-renew, ICANN says you must keep your payment information current.
- Use a contact email that is not on the domain itself, or reminders stop arriving once DNS is cut.
- Note your registrar's redemption fee before you need it.
| When | What happens | Source rule |
|---|---|---|
| About 1 month before expiry | First renewal reminder (ICANN treats 26 to 35 days as compliant) | ERRP 2.1.1 |
| About 1 week before expiry | Second renewal reminder (4 to 10 days is compliant) | ERRP 2.1.1 and its notes |
| Expiry day | Registration lapses; you can still renew with your registrar | ERRP 2.2 |
| Within 5 days after expiry | If not renewed or deleted, one more notice with renewal instructions | ERRP 2.1.2 |
| At least the last 8 days it is renewable | Registrar interrupts DNS, so your site and email stop working | ERRP 2.2.3 |
| After expiry (autoRenewPeriod) | Registry grace period after automatic renewal; length is not fixed on ICANN's status page | EPP status codes |
| Deletion, then 30 days (redemptionPeriod) | Redemption Grace Period: DNS off, no transfers, you can still redeem, usually for a fee | ERRP 3.1 to 3.3 |
| Several days after redemption ends (pendingDelete) | Domain is deleted and can be registered again under the registry's policies | EPP status codes |
Lookup and privacy terms
| Term | Plain definition | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| WHOIS | The older protocol for looking up who registered a domain. | Since 28 January 2025 gTLD registries and registrars are no longer required to provide WHOIS, except for .com, .name and .post. |
| RDAP | The Registration Data Access Protocol, built by the IETF as WHOIS's replacement. | All gTLD registries and registrars must provide it; ICANN points users to its ICANN Lookup tool. |
| Privacy or proxy service | A service that hides or substitutes your contact details in public lookups. | ICANN says you are entitled to know the provider and its terms and pricing. |
| Nonpublic registration data | Contact details not shown in public lookups. | Requesters can ask for it through ICANN's Registration Data Request Service (RDRS); disclosure is not guaranteed. |
| Accurate contact data | Your duty to keep registration details correct. | ICANN says to update them promptly and answer registrar inquiries within 15 days. |
DNS and status terms you meet when connecting a website
| Term | Plain definition | Example from a builder |
|---|---|---|
| Apex (root) domain | The bare domain, example.com. | Framer asks for two A records on the apex; Carrd asks for one A record on @. |
| Subdomain | A prefix such as www or shop. | Framer uses one CNAME for a subdomain. |
| A record | Points a name at an IP address. | Used for apex domains on Carrd and Framer. |
| CNAME record | Points a name at another name. | Carrd and Framer use it for www. |
| Nameserver | The server that answers DNS questions for your domain. | ICANN notes that changing nameservers is an alternative to transferring the registration. |
| DNS propagation | The delay before a change is seen everywhere. | Framer: up to 48 hours, usually faster. |
| clientHold and serverHold | Statuses that stop a domain resolving, set by the registrar or the registry. | If your site suddenly vanishes, check for these in an RDAP lookup. |
A five-minute domain health check
- Run your domain through ICANN Lookup and note the registrar, expiry date and status codes.
- If you see clientTransferProhibited, that is normal protection; remove it only when transferring.
- If you see clientHold or serverHold, contact the registrar the same day.
- Confirm the registrant email is one you read and that it is not hosted on the domain itself.
- Find the registrar's published renewal and redemption fees.
- Write down who controls DNS: the registrar, a DNS provider, or your website builder.
Questions before you decide
What is the difference between a registrar and a registry?
The registrar is the ICANN-accredited company you buy and renew the domain from. The registry operates the extension itself, such as .com, and registrars have direct access to it. Your contract and support are with the registrar.
How long do I have to recover an expired domain?
It depends on the registrar, but ICANN sets minimums: DNS is cut for at least the last 8 days you can still renew, and after deletion gTLD registries offer a 30-day Redemption Grace Period, then, after several days in pendingDelete status, it is released for re-registration.
Is WHOIS still used?
Since 28 January 2025 gTLD registries and registrars are no longer required to run WHOIS except for .com, .name and .post. RDAP is the required replacement, and ICANN points users to its ICANN Lookup tool.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- ICANN: Expired Registration Recovery Policy Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICANN: EPP status codes Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICANN Transfer Policy (updated 21 February 2024) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICANN: FAQs for domain name holders Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICANN: Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICANN: Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICANN: Registrants' benefits and responsibilities Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICANN: Information for registrars and registrants Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Framer Help: How to connect a custom domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd Docs: Using a custom domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.