[INFOGRAPHIC] Domain Name Status Codes Explained
Have you ever wondered how can you tell what’s up with your domain?
Domain status codes are easy readable pieces of information that indicate the exact state of your domain. It’s like a domain health diagnoses: they help you figure out if something’s wrong or if there are some safety issues you should worry about (e.g. whether or not your domain is protected from unauthorized transfers or updates). They also inform you about any pending actions that need to be resolved, about possible reasons your domain stopped working, your domain’s expiration date, etc. Pretty cool actually – kind of like your domain’s personal ID you’re responsible for.
There are two status values you need to know of: client and server. The first ones can be directly changed by the client (i.e. domain holder) and via sponsoring registrar (the party managing the subject domain). Take the “locked status code” as an example: it implies certain prohibitions as the domain cannot be deleted, transferred, or renewed. As a domain holder, you’re fully in charge: unlock the status code, make desired changes, and lock it back again.
The server status values are the ones that can also be changed, but only registry systems are authorized to do so. These are predominantly automatic changes related to the Domain Name Lifecycle.
Status codes can be seen in the WHOIS databases, which also provide detailed information about domains, mainly in terms of domain ownership (e.g. name, address, contact information) and the party responsible for the domain.
If you want to try out and see how this works, check out the .ME WHOIS: type the domain name you want to look up and you will access the comprehensive database and see all the information available to the public. It’s the fastest way to see if your desired domain name is free for registration and also check your .Me domain status, if you’re already a domain holder.
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Most people don’t pay much attention to domain status codes, but it’s really useful to gain a fuller understanding of them. There are dozens of different status codes and here at Domain.me we try to explain them, so our users can get the most of their websites.
