A domain backorder is a reservation placed with a registrar or drop-catching service to attempt to register a currently taken domain if and when it is deleted.
Key points:
- A backorder does not force the owner to release the name; most expiring domains are renewed or sold before they drop.
- Many services only charge if they succeed in catching the name.
- If multiple people backorder the same name with one service, it typically goes to a private auction among them.
- Different services compete for the same drops, so using the service with the strongest catching infrastructure matters.
Backorders are best for names in the final stages of expiry, such as pending delete.
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Related terms
- Drop catching
- Drop catching is the practice of registering expiring domains the instant the registry deletes them, using automated high-speed systems.
- Expired domain
- An expired domain is one whose registration period ended without renewal; it passes through grace periods before possibly being deleted and released.
- Redemption grace period (RGP)
- The redemption grace period is a 30-day window after deletion when the former owner can still restore a gTLD domain, usually for an extra fee.
- Pending delete
- Pending delete is the final 5-day status of a gTLD domain after redemption, when it cannot be restored and is about to be released.