How domain expiry really works
Every domain is registered for a set period, usually one year at a time, and the registry records the date it runs out. That expiry date is public: this checker reads it from the registry's RDAP record, the official replacement for WHOIS, so you see the same date the registrar does.
An expiry date passing doesn't mean the domain is free. Most registrars renew automatically, and even when the owner stops paying, a generic domain goes through an auto-renew grace period (up to about 45 days), a 30-day redemption period and a 5-day pending-delete stage before anyone else can register it. The status codes tell you which stage it's in, so we show them in plain English next to the date.
If you're waiting for a domain to drop, the stage matters more than the date. A domain in redemption has roughly five weeks left; a domain in pending delete drops within days. Handle Watch checks watched domains every day and emails you when one moves closer to dropping.