WHOIS Lookup

WHOIS and RDAP in one lookup

Domain registration data used to come from WHOIS, a plain-text service where every registry formatted its answers differently. Most registries now also offer RDAP, which returns the same information in a consistent, structured format. We ask RDAP first because it is more reliable, and only fall back to WHOIS for endings that have no RDAP service.

For endings like .com and .net, the registry only holds the basics. When it points to the registrar's own RDAP service, we fetch that too, which is where the abuse contact usually lives.

Why the owner's name is usually hidden

Since GDPR came into force in 2018, registrars hide personal contact details by default. You will normally see the registrar, dates, nameservers and status codes, but not the owner's name or email. To reach the owner, use the contact form many registrars offer, or the registrar's abuse address for reporting misuse.

What the status codes mean

Each domain carries one or more status codes. Most are protective locks and are good to see. The result explains each one in plain words. The ones to worry about are clientHold or serverHold, which take the domain offline, and redemptionPeriod or pendingDelete, which mean it has expired and is on its way to being released.

Limitations

• Some country registries, including several in South Asia, offer neither RDAP nor public WHOIS. We tell you when that is the case.
• WHOIS servers limit how often they answer. If a lookup fails, wait a few minutes and try again.
• Registrars can show slightly different dates from the registry, for example a renewal you paid for that the registry has not recorded yet.

Questions