Using RDAP for Domain Intelligence: Beyond Basic Availability
Leverage RDAP metadata—status codes, lifecycle timestamps, entities—for richer domain operations and monitoring.
By Data Engineering•8/6/2025•2 min read
rdapmetadataintelligence
Using RDAP for Domain Intelligence: Beyond Basic Availability
RDAP responses contain structured lifecycle data that becomes a competitive edge when harvested at scale.
Key RDAP Fields
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| status[] | State codes (clientHold, pendingDelete) |
| events[] | Created, updated, expiry timestamps |
| nameservers | Delegation insight |
| entities | Registrar / registrant handles |
Status Code Insights
- pendingDelete: high-backorder competition zone
- clientTransferProhibited: typical lock state (baseline)
- serverHold: potential policy or abuse issue
Expiry Window Strategy
- Capture domains entering autoRenewGrace
- Monitor those shifting to redemptionPeriod
- Prioritize pendingDelete for drop catch scheduling
Change Detection
Store hashed RDAP snapshots. Compare diffs:
- Added/removed statuses
- Expiry date shifts (renewals)
- Nameserver churn spikes
Data Normalization
RdapRecord {
domain, tld, fetchedAt,
createdAt, updatedAt, expiresAt,
statuses: [...], registrar, nameservers: [...]
}
Applications
- Portfolio renewal risk scoring
- Detect hijacks (sudden registrar change)
- Competitive watching (monitor competitor brand domains)
Rate Limits & Caching
- Respect server-provided rdapConformance & notices
- Cache stable records (no status change) longer
- Backoff on 429 with jitter
Augment with DNS
Combine RDAP + DNS:
- RDAP shows lifecycle; DNS shows live delegation
- Mismatch (expiresAt past + still resolving) can flag grace periods
Want code to persist RDAP diffs? We can add a module.