Transferring a domain from one company to another commonly involves the use of a special domain name authorization code, which different companies call an EPP key, a domain password or an AuthInfo code. This code can be used as a protection mechanism against unapproved transfers with all gTLD and with most ccTLD extensions. The code can be obtained only by the domain name registrant and is provided by the present registrar company. It must be given to the new domain registrar company because the transfer process cannot be initiated without it. The code is case-sensitive and generally comprises of numbers and special symbols, so as to hinder unauthorized persons from guessing it. Certain domain name registrars even alter the codes of domain names registered through them after a certain period of time for better safety.