DOMAIN NAMES

What is the WHOIS database?

WHOIS is a digital tool that provides precise information about the registration of a domain name or an IP address. It functions as a public registry where anyone can access details about the owner, administrative contacts, and the technical specifications of a domain or IP address.

Through this public database, you can obtain detailed information such as the full name of the domain owner, their postal address, email address, phone numbers, setup and expiration dates, registrar information, and the DNS servers associated with the domain.

WHOIS is an essential tool for verifying the legitimacy of a domain, contacting owners for administrative purposes, and preventing domain fraud or abuse. It also helps businesses and individuals monitor and manage their online presence more effectively.

What is a domain status?

Every domain has a status that can be checked using a WHOIS lookup tool. The domain status reflects its current state within the registrar’s system, indicating whether it is active, locked, expired, or in the process of being transferred. It is crucial to understand this status in order to manage and secure your domains.

Domain statuses are usually represented by standardized codes, commonly known as EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) codes. Each code provides specific information about the current state of the domain and its restrictions. For example, certain statuses indicate that the domain cannot be transferred, updated, or deleted without authorization, offering an additional layer of protection against unintended or malicious changes.

Why check the status of a domain?

It is essential to check the status of your domain to ensure the accessibility of your website and email services. By regularly verifying your domain’s state, you can quickly confirm that your site is operational and accessible, identify any issues or unexpected interruptions, and monitor ongoing transfers or administrative changes.

Frequent status checks also help you understand the domain’s lifecycle stage. You can verify whether it is nearing its expiration date, in redemption, suspended, or close to being deleted.

This proactive approach allows you to act in time—such as by renewing the domain or resolving administrative issues—thereby avoiding service interruptions, loss of traffic, or potential security risks. In summary, monitoring your domain status gives you control, peace of mind, and protection against avoidable complications.

How to check a domain’s status on WHOIS

To check your domain’s status, you can use one of the many online tools that provide accurate and up-to-date WHOIS information.

• Enter the domain name you want to check, such as example.com.

• Run the lookup and scroll down to find the line labeled Domain Status. This section will display all active status codes currently applied to your domain, giving you a clear understanding of its current state.
  

Common Domain Statuses and What They Mean

Here are the most common statuses you might see in a WHOIS report, along with their significance:

• OK / ACTIVE – The domain is live, fully functional, and accessible online without restrictions.
• addPeriod – Indicates that the domain has been registered recently and may still be within a grace period set by the registrar.
• clientTransferProhibited / clientUpdateProhibited – Security locks applied by the registrar to prevent unauthorized transfers or updates to the domain settings.
• clientDeleteProhibited – Ensures the domain cannot be accidentally or maliciously deleted from the registrar’s database.
• pendingTransfer – The domain is in the process of being transferred to another registrar; during this time, changes may be restricted.
• clientHold / serverHold – The domain has been temporarily suspended, often due to incomplete documentation, unpaid fees, or other administrative issues. While on hold, the domain will not resolve or function online.
• redemptionPeriod – The domain has expired and can still be restored by the owner, typically for an additional fee within a specific timeframe.
• pendingDelete – The domain is in the final deletion phase, meaning it will soon become available for registration by anyone once the deletion process is complete.

.MA Domain Specifics

.MA is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Morocco and is managed by ANRT. While it follows standard EPP statuses, it has some specific local rules.

Registration requires a Moroccan contact, and domains may be placed on hold if required documentation or administrative contacts are incomplete. All common statuses such as OK, clientTransferProhibited, clientHold, redemptionPeriod, and others apply, but the enforcement of rules is subject to ANRT regulations.

A key difference from many generic TLDs is that .MA domains are deleted 30 days after expiration and do not require restoration fees. This makes it simpler and faster to reclaim your domain if you miss the renewal window, unlike TLDs such as .COM, which may charge additional fees for restoration. Understanding these specifics helps Moroccan domain owners manage their domains efficiently and avoid losing valuable online assets.