EPP Status Codes (clientHold, …)

EPP status codes are the machine-readable flags defined by the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) that describe exactly what operations are permitted on a domain at any given moment. They come in two namespaces: client* codes set by the registrar and server* codes set by the registry, with the server codes taking precedence. Common ones include clientTransferProhibited (the transfer lock that blocks outbound moves), serverDeleteProhibited (registry-level protection against deletion), clientHold (suspends DNS resolution, often for non-payment), and pendingDelete which marks a domain in its grace period before it is released and available for registration again — a state adjacent to pending delete. Understanding these codes matters practically: a domain showing serverTransferProhibited cannot be moved even after the registrar unlocks it, which surprises buyers mid-transaction. For Namefi users, EPP status codes describe the state of the underlying DNS registration, while the NFT in the wallet independently records on-chain ownership — both layers must be checked when evaluating a tokenized domain's transferability. Source: ICANN EPP Status Codes reference.