The status of a domain name can be seen in its whois information. To check the whois details of a domain name, you can use an online whois check tool such as whois.domaintools.com.
In this article we will explain what the most common domain status codes mean:
ACTIVE: This status is set by the registry. The
domain name can be modified by the registrar and can be renewed. The
domain will be included in the DNS zone if it has been pointed to at
least one name server.
REGISTRY-LOCK: This status is set by the registry. The
registrar cannot modify or delete the domain but it can be renewed. The
REGISTRY-LOCK status must be removed by the registry for the registrar
to be able to modify the domain. The domain will be included in the DNS
zone if it has been pointed to at least one name server.
REGISTRAR-LOCK: This status is set by the sponsoring
registrar. The domain can not be modified or deleted but it can be
renewed. The registrar must remove the the REGISTRAR-LOCK status to
modify the domain. The domain will be included in the DNS zone.
REGISTRY-HOLD: This status is set by the registry. The domain
can not be modified or deleted by the registrar but it can be renewed.
The REGISTRY-HOLD status must be removed by the registry for the
registrar to be able to modify the domain. The domain will not be
included in the DNS zone.
REGISTRAR-HOLD: This status is set by the sponsoring registrar.
The domain can not be modified or deleted but it can be renewed. The
registrar must remove the REGISTRAR-HOLD status to modify the domain.
The domain will not be included in the DNS zone.
REDEMPTIONPERIOD: This status is set by the registry when the
registrar requests the deletion of the domain name from the registry.
The domain will not be included in the DNS zone. The domain name can not
be purged or modified, it can only be restored. The domain can remain
in this status for a maximum of 30 calendar days.
PENDINGRESTORE: This status is set by the registry when
the registrar requests restoration of a domain name which is in
REDEMPTIONPERIOD status. The domain will be included in the DNS zone.
Registrar requests to modify the domain will be rejected. The domain
will remain in this status while the registry waits for the registrar to
provide the required restoration documentation. If the registrar fails
to confirm the restoration request by providing the required
documentation to the registry within 7 calendar days, the domain will
revert to REDEMPTIONPERIOD status. If the registrar provides
documentation to the registry within 7 calendar days to confirm the
restoration request, the domain status will be set to ACTIVE by the
registry.
PENDINGDELETE: This status is set by the registry after
a domain has been set in REDEMPTIONPERIOD status and the domain has not
been restored by the registrar. The domain will not be included in the
DNS zone. All registrar requests to modify or otherwise update the
domain in this status will be rejected. The domain will be purged from
the registry database after being in this status for 5 calendar days.