Domain life cycle refers to the various stages that a domain name goes through from its creation/registration to its eventual expiration or deletion.
It is important to be aware of the domain life cycle to ensure the domain owner/registrant maintains control over the domain name and avoid losing it to others.
The image below illustrates the key stages involved in a domain life cycle.
1. Active
The journey of a .my domain begins when it’s registered and activated. During this stage, the domain is fully functional and in use, meaning it can be linked to a website, email, or any other service. The registrant has complete control over the domain, including the ability to renew it or update its contact details.
The Active stage typically lasts for the duration of the registration period, which can range from 1 to 10 years. It’s important to keep track of renewal dates to ensure your domain continues to function without interruption.
2. Expired (Grace Period)
When the registration period ends and the owner has not renewed it, the domain enters the Expired (Grace Period) stage which typically lasts for 30 days. During this period, the registrant still has the opportunity to renew the domain without facing any additional charges.
The domain will be suspended during this stage, services like email or website hosting will be inaccessible, but the domain name itself is reserved for the original owner.
3. Redemption Grace Period
If the domain is not renewed during the Grace Period, it enters the Redemption Grace Period. This phase generally lasts for another 30 days.
If the registrant decides to reclaim or renew the domain during this period, they will need to pay the redemption fee on top of the regular renewal fee to restore it to an active state.
4. Pending Deletion
If the domain remains unrecovered after the Redemption Grace Period, it moves into the Pending Deletion stage. This phase usually lasts for about 5 days.
The domain is now completely locked and cannot be renewed or recovered by the registrant.
This stage also signals that the domain is about to be permanently deleted from the registry, making it available for re-registration by any party.
5. Available
Once the domain completes the Pending Deletion phase, it is permanently deleted from the registry's system.
The domain is now open to the public and available for registration by anyone on first come, first serve basis.
Note: While registry set the basic rules for domain lifecycle, registrars can have their own policies that may differ from the registry’s guidelines. Registrars may, for instance, enforce different policies on renewals, redemption fees, or grace periods.