what is domain transfer ?

Domain transfer, also known as domain name transfer, refers to the process of moving a domain name from one domain registrar to another. A domain registrar is a company that manages the registration of domain names on the Internet.

A domain transfer can occur for several reasons, including better pricing, better customer service, or a desire to consolidate all of a website owner's domain names in one location.

To transfer a domain, the website owner must initiate the process with their new domain registrar and obtain an authorization code from the current registrar. The new registrar will then initiate the transfer process, which typically takes a few days to complete. During the transfer process, the website owner's website and email may be temporarily unavailable.

It's important to note that domain transfers are not the same as domain name server (DNS) changes. A DNS change only modifies the location where a domain's website and email are hosted, while a domain transfer moves the actual domain registration from one registrar to another.

To further explain, when a website owner transfers their domain name to a new registrar, they are essentially changing the company that manages their domain registration. The domain registration contains important information about the website, such as the domain name, the expiration date, and the contact information for the website owner.

The process of transferring a domain name usually involves a few steps. First, the website owner needs to ensure that their domain is eligible for transfer. Some registrars may have certain restrictions or requirements that must be met before a transfer can take place. For example, some registrars may require that the domain has been registered for a certain amount of time or that certain contact information is up-to-date.

Once the domain is eligible for transfer, the website owner needs to obtain an authorization code, sometimes referred to as an EPP code, from their current registrar. This code is used to verify that the transfer is authorized by the website owner.

After obtaining the authorization code, the website owner can initiate the transfer process with the new registrar. This typically involves providing the new registrar with the authorization code and paying a transfer fee. Once the transfer is initiated, the current registrar is notified and has a period of time to approve or reject the transfer request.

If the transfer is approved, the new registrar will assume management of the domain registration. It's important to note that during the transfer process, the website owner's website and email may be temporarily unavailable. This is because the domain's DNS settings are typically updated as part of the transfer process, which can take some time to propagate across the internet.