A backorder is a service where you reserve a domain before it actually drops, and the provider attempts to register it for you the moment it becomes available. You're essentially placing a claim in advance. If the current owner doesn't renew and the domain gets deleted, the backorder service tries to grab it on your behalf.
How backorders work
You find a domain that's currently registered but approaching expiration. You go to a backorder service like Catched, DropCatch, or SnapNames and place a backorder on it. The service adds your request to its queue. When the domain actually drops from the registry, automated systems attempt to register it within seconds.
Here's the catch: if only one person backordered the domain, they get it at the base price. But if multiple people placed backorders on the same domain, it goes to a private auction between those bidders. This is how many auction platforms generate their inventory. The more popular a domain, the more backorders it attracts, and the higher the final price.
Not every backorder succeeds. Multiple services compete for the same domain at the registry level, and only one can win. Some services have better infrastructure and faster connections to the registries, giving them higher success rates.
Why it matters for expired domains
Backorders let you target specific domains rather than browsing whatever happens to be available today. If you've found a competitor's old domain or an aged domain with great Trust Flow, you can backorder it and wait. On CatchDoms, domains available for backorder show up in the Catched tab with a "Backorder" button linking directly to the platform.