# Glossary (https://developer.godaddy.com/en/docs/api-users/glossary) Learn about the terms used throughout this documentation. * **async operation**: An API operation that returns `202 Accepted` immediately and continues processing in the background. The caller receives an operation ID and polls a status endpoint until the operation reaches `COMPLETED` or `FAILED`. Registration and domain transfers use async operations. See [status polling](#status-polling). * **authoritative nameserver**: The nameserver that holds the definitive DNS records for a domain. When you update DNS records through the GoDaddy API, the change is applied to GoDaddy's authoritative nameservers. External resolvers cache the previous values until the TTL expires. See [TTL](#ttl). * **CNAME (Canonical Name record)**: A DNS record type that aliases one domain name to another. A CNAME cannot coexist with other records at the same name — a CNAME at the apex (`@`) is invalid when other records (A, MX) are present. * **domain status**: The lifecycle state of a registered domain. Common values: `ACTIVE` (in use), `CANCELLED` (registration lapsed), `PENDING_TRANSFER` (outbound transfer in progress), `EXPIRED` (past expiration, in grace period), `REDEMPTION` (past grace period, recoverable at higher cost). Status values affect which API operations are permitted. * **domain transfer**: Moving a domain registration from one registrar to another. Outbound transfers require an authorization code (EPP code). Transfers take up to 5–7 days to complete and go through `PENDING_TRANSFER` status during that time. * **grace period**: A period after domain expiration during which the domain can be renewed at normal pricing. After the grace period ends, the domain enters a redemption period and renewal costs increase significantly. * **ICANN consent**: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) requires registrants to confirm that their contact information is accurate before a domain is registered. In the v3 API, you provide this as a consent object in the registration request. Providing false information can result in domain suspension. * **idempotency key**: A client-generated value (typically a UUID) included in the `Idempotency-Key` request header. If the server already processed a request with the same key, it returns the original response without executing the operation again. Use idempotency keys on all non-idempotent write operations — particularly domain registration — to prevent duplicate charges on retries. * **MX record (Mail Exchanger record)**: A DNS record type that specifies the mail servers responsible for accepting email for a domain. MX records include a priority value — lower numbers indicate higher priority. * **nameserver**: A server that answers DNS queries for a domain. Nameservers are authoritative (hold the definitive records) or recursive (resolve queries by querying authoritative servers on behalf of clients). Changing a domain's nameservers delegates DNS management to a different provider. * **NS record (Name Server record)**: A DNS record type that delegates a DNS zone to a set of nameservers. GoDaddy-managed NS records cannot be modified through the DNS records API — use the dedicated nameservers endpoint instead. * **PAT (Personal Access Token)**: A scoped Bearer token used to authenticate API requests. Generated from the [developer dashboard](https://developer.godaddy.com/personal-access-token). PATs replace the legacy `sso-key` credential for new integrations and are required for v3 API access. A PAT includes one or more scopes (for example, `domains.domain:read`) that determine which operations it can authorize. * **quote token**: A short-lived token returned by `POST /v3/domains/registration-quotes`. The token locks the price for a domain registration and must be included in the subsequent `POST /v3/domains/registrations` call. Quote tokens expire quickly — re-quote if you receive a `QUOTE_EXPIRED` error. * **rate limit**: The maximum number of API requests allowed per credential per time window. The GoDaddy Domains API limits requests to 60 per minute per credential. Exceeding the limit returns `429 Too Many Requests` with a `Retry-After` header. Go to [Handle rate limits](https://developer.godaddy.com/docs/api-users/rate-limits) for retry guidance. * **redemption period**: A period after the grace period ends during which a domain can still be recovered, but at significantly higher cost. After the redemption period, the domain is released for re-registration by anyone. * **registrar**: A company accredited by ICANN to sell and manage domain registrations. GoDaddy is a registrar. The registrar manages the relationship with the registry on behalf of the registrant (the domain owner). * **registry**: The organization that manages a top-level domain (TLD) on behalf of ICANN. For example, Verisign manages `.com` and `.net`; the Public Interest Registry manages `.org`. The registry maintains the authoritative database of all domains under the TLD. * **registry lock**: A security feature that prevents unauthorized changes to a domain's nameservers, contact information, or transfer status by requiring out-of-band verification. Domains with registry lock cannot be updated programmatically until the lock is released. * **scope**: A permission granted to a PAT that authorizes a specific category of API operations. For example, `domains.domain:read` allows read-only domain and availability queries; `domains.domain:create` allows registration. A PAT must include all scopes required for each operation it will perform. Go to [Authenticate — PAT scopes](https://developer.godaddy.com/docs/api-users/auth#pat-scopes) for the full reference. * **shopper ID / customer ID**: GoDaddy's internal identifier for an account. In the v2 API, the `customerId` appears in operation paths (`/v2/customers/{customerId}/domains/...`). In the v3 API, the authenticated credential determines the account — no customer ID is required in the path. * **SOA record (Start of Authority record)**: A DNS record that contains administrative information about a DNS zone, including the primary nameserver, zone serial number, and refresh intervals. SOA records are managed by GoDaddy and cannot be modified through the API. * **sso-key**: A legacy credential format used by the v1 API. Format: `sso-key :`. The `sso-key` is not supported by the v3 API. New integrations should use a [PAT](#pat-personal-access-token) instead. * **status polling**: The process of repeatedly calling a status endpoint to check whether an async operation has completed. The recommended pattern is exponential backoff: wait 1 second, then 2, then 4, up to a reasonable maximum. Stop polling when status reaches `COMPLETED` or `FAILED`. See [async operation](#async-operation). * **TXT record**: A DNS record type that stores arbitrary text associated with a domain. TXT records are commonly used for domain ownership verification (Google, GitHub, Stripe), SPF email authentication, and DKIM keys. * **TTL (Time to Live)**: The number of seconds a DNS record can be cached by resolvers before they must re-query the authoritative nameserver. Lower TTLs reduce propagation time for changes but increase query volume. The minimum TTL for GoDaddy-hosted DNS is 600 seconds (10 minutes). * **v1 / v2 / v3 API**: The three versioned namespaces of the GoDaddy Domains API. `v1` (`/v1/domains/...`) covers DNS, contacts, renewals, lock, and transfers. `v2` (`/v2/customers/{customerId}/domains/...`) adds async operation tracking. `v3` (`/v3/domains/...`) is the preferred namespace for new integrations — it separates quoting from execution, supports async operations, and requires ICANN consent. Go to the [Domains API overview](https://developer.godaddy.com/docs/references/rest/domains) for the version comparison table. * **zone**: The complete set of DNS records for a domain managed by a single authoritative nameserver. Managing DNS through the GoDaddy API operates on a domain's zone. If the domain uses external nameservers, GoDaddy's zone is inactive — DNS records must be managed at the external provider.