Glossary
DOMAINS

EPP

Extensible Provisioning Protocol — the XML-over-TCP protocol registrars use to talk to registries. Every domain registration, transfer, and lock change goes through EPP.

EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol, RFC 5730-5734) is the standard for communication between registrars and registries. When you register, transfer, or update a domain, your registrar sends EPP commands to the registry, which persists the change in the authoritative zone.

Common Commands

  • create — register a new domain
  • check — is the name available
  • update — change nameservers, contacts, or status flags
  • transfer — initiate or approve a transfer between registrars
  • delete — release the domain
  • renew — extend registration

Status Codes You’ll See in WHOIS

  • clientTransferProhibited — transfer lock on
  • clientDeleteProhibited — deletion lock on
  • pendingTransfer — transfer in-flight
  • serverHold — registry has suspended the domain (dispute, non-payment)
  • pendingDelete — 5-day window before release

Why It Matters to You

You never touch EPP directly, but every action in your registrar’s UI is an EPP command underneath. When something in the UI doesn’t work, the underlying EPP response usually tells you why. Ask your registrar for the raw EPP error code — it’s the ground truth.

Check the WHOIS glossary entry, the RDAP glossary entry, and the transfer lock entry.

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