Every domain name moves through the same broad sequence of stages, whether it's registered for one year or renewed for decades:

Registration — you register the domain for a term (typically 1–10 years) and it becomes active immediately.

Active — the domain resolves normally, with full DNS and email functionality, for as long as it stays renewed and in good standing.

Expiration — if a domain isn't renewed by its expiration date, it doesn't disappear immediately, but it typically stops resolving while it sits in a post-expiration status.

Grace period — a window after expiration, still owned by the same registrant, where renewing is straightforward and usually costs the same as a normal renewal.

Redemption period — a further window after the grace period ends, where the domain can still be recovered by its original registrant, but usually only at a significantly higher redemption fee.

Pending delete — a short final window, after redemption ends, where the domain is locked from any action while it works through final release.

Available again — once pending delete ends, the domain releases back into general availability, and anyone, including the original registrant, can register it fresh.

NameBright's own version of this sequence has specific, published windows at each stage; see Grace Period vs. Redemption Period vs. Pending Delete for the exact numbers. If you'd rather remove a domain from your account outright instead of letting it run its course, see Delete a Domain.