Last updated on September 15th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
What is a domain life cycle?
When you register a domain name, you are actually leasing it from a registrar for a set period of time.
The length of time can vary but is typically one to ten years. At the end of the lease, you have the option to renew the domain for another term or let it expire.
If you choose not to renew, the domain will enter what’s called the redemption grace period. During this time (usually 30 days), you can still renew the domain name by paying an additional fee to the registrar.
After that period expires, the domain name will be deleted from the registry and will become available for anyone to register.
So, in summary, the life cycle of a domain name goes like this:
1. Register
2. Renew or let expire
3. Redemption grace period
4. Pending Delete from the registry
Let us look at what happens at each stage.
Stage 1). Register
You register a domain name with a registrar. The registrar will then add the domain name to their registry. This is the first stage of the domain life cycle.
Stage 2). Renewal
You can renew your domain name with the same registrar or with a new registrar. If you renew your domain name with a new registrar, they will update their records and become the new sponsor of your domain name.
This is the second stage of the domain life cycle.
If you do not renew your domains before they expire, they will enter into Stage 3 below…
Stage 3). Redemption grace period (only for some TLDs)
After a domain name expires, there is usually a redemption grace period during which you can still renew your domain name. This period varies depending on the TLD but is typically around 30 days.
If you do not renew your domain name during this period, it will enter Stage 4 below.
Stage 4). Pending Delete from the registry
If you do not renew your domain name during the redemption grace period, it will be deleted from the registry and made available for anyone to register.
This is the final stage of the domain life cycle.
As such, if you don’t wish to lose your domain name, ensure to keep renewing it yearly (or after your chosen billing cycle).
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