What Is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a query protocol that retrieves information about registered domain names, IP addresses and autonomous systems. Every domain registered anywhere in the world has a WHOIS record containing registration details. Look up any domain: WHOIS Lookup →
What WHOIS Shows You
- Registrar — The company where the domain was purchased (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.)
- Registration date — When the domain was first registered
- Expiry date — When the domain registration expires (critical for catching abandoned domains)
- Nameservers — Which DNS servers handle the domain (reveals hosting provider)
- Domain status — EPP status codes showing if the domain is locked, active, or being transferred
- DNSSEC — Whether DNS Security Extensions are enabled
WHOIS Privacy Protection
Since GDPR came into force in 2018, most registrars offer free WHOIS privacy protection that hides the registrant's personal contact information. Instead of seeing the owner's name, email and phone, you see the registrar's proxy contact details.
This is completely normal and legal. If you need to contact a domain owner for a legitimate reason (copyright complaint, purchase inquiry), contact the registrar — they are legally required to forward abuse complaints to the owner.
RDAP: The Modern Replacement for WHOIS
RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern structured replacement for the traditional WHOIS protocol. Key improvements:
- Returns structured JSON data instead of plain text
- Supports internationalised domain names (IDNs)
- Consistent format across all registrars
- Authentication support for accessing non-public data
- Better handling of GDPR-redacted fields
Our WHOIS tool uses RDAP for more reliable and consistent results.
Common WHOIS Use Cases
Buying a Domain
Check if a domain is registered and when it expires. If it expires soon and the owner has not set up auto-renewal, it may become available. Use domain backorder services to catch expiring domains.
Reporting Abuse
Find the registrar for a domain sending spam or hosting malware. Registrars have abuse teams who can suspend domains violating their terms of service.
Competitive Research
See which registrar and DNS provider your competitors use. Nameservers reveal Cloudflare, AWS Route53, or other infrastructure choices.
Domain Age for SEO
Older domains often have more authority. The registration date confirms a domain's age when evaluating it for purchase.
Related Tools
- SSL Certificate Checker — Check the SSL alongside WHOIS
- Port Scanner — Check which ports are open on the domain
- HTTP Headers Checker — Inspect server response headers
