What is WHOIS and how does it work?

WHOIS is a query and response protocol that provides information about domain names and IP addresses. When you perform a WHOIS lookup, the system queries a database maintained by domain registrars and registries to retrieve registration details, ownership information, expiration dates, name servers, and contact information. This protocol was standardized in the 1980s and remains the primary method for accessing domain registration data.

Is WHOIS lookup free?

Yes, our WHOIS lookup tool is completely free to use. You can check domain registration information, IP address details, and other WHOIS data without any cost or registration required. Simply enter a domain name or IP address and get instant results.

What information can I get from a WHOIS lookup?

A WHOIS lookup provides comprehensive domain information including: domain registration status (registered or available), registrar name and contact details, domain creation date, expiration date, last update date, domain status codes, name servers (DNS servers), registrant information (when not protected), administrative and technical contact details, and IP address information when querying an IP.

Why is some WHOIS information redacted or hidden?

Many domain registrars offer WHOIS privacy protection services (also called domain privacy or proxy services) to protect registrant personal information. This is especially common after GDPR regulations. When privacy protection is enabled, you'll see 'REDACTED FOR PRIVACY' or similar messages instead of personal contact information. This helps prevent spam, identity theft, and unwanted solicitations.

Can I use WHOIS to check if a domain is available?

Yes, WHOIS lookup is an excellent way to check domain availability. If a domain is registered, you'll see registration details. If a domain is available (not registered), the WHOIS query will typically return 'No match' or 'Not found' messages. However, for the most accurate availability check, it's recommended to use a domain registrar's availability checker.

How accurate is WHOIS information?

WHOIS information is generally accurate as it comes directly from domain registrars and registries. However, information can be outdated if the domain owner hasn't updated their records, or if privacy protection is enabled. The registration and expiration dates are typically the most reliable pieces of information.

Can I look up IP addresses with WHOIS?

Yes, WHOIS can provide information about IP addresses including: the organization or ISP that owns the IP block, geographic location (country/region), network information, and contact details for the IP block owner. This is useful for network troubleshooting, security investigations, and understanding where traffic originates.

What are name servers and why are they important?

Name servers (also called DNS servers) are servers that translate domain names into IP addresses. They're crucial for website functionality - when someone types a domain name, name servers direct them to the correct server. WHOIS lookup shows which name servers are configured for a domain, which helps with DNS troubleshooting and understanding how a domain is configured.

How often is WHOIS data updated?

WHOIS data is updated in real-time when domain owners make changes through their registrar. However, there can be propagation delays of a few hours to 48 hours before changes appear in WHOIS databases. Registration and expiration dates are typically updated immediately, while contact information updates may take longer to propagate.

Is WHOIS lookup legal?

Yes, WHOIS lookup is completely legal. WHOIS databases are public by design to promote transparency and accountability on the internet. Anyone can query WHOIS information for legitimate purposes such as domain research, security investigations, network troubleshooting, or verifying domain ownership.

What's the difference between WHOIS and DNS lookup?

WHOIS provides registration and ownership information about domains and IPs, while DNS lookup shows how domains are configured (A records, MX records, CNAME, etc.). WHOIS answers 'who owns this domain?' while DNS answers 'where does this domain point to?'. Both are important for different purposes.

Can I find out who owns a domain using WHOIS?

You can find registrant information if the domain owner hasn't enabled privacy protection. However, many domains now have privacy protection enabled, which hides personal contact information. In such cases, you'll see the privacy service provider's information instead. For domains without privacy protection, you can see the registrant name, organization, email, and contact details.

Free WHOIS Lookup Tool

Check domain registration information, ownership details, expiration dates, and IP address data instantly

WHOIS Lookup

Enter a domain name or IP address to look up registration information

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about WHOIS lookup and domain information

How WHOIS Lookup Works

Understanding the WHOIS protocol and database system

WHOIS operates on a distributed database system where domain registrars and registries maintain registration information. When you perform a WHOIS lookup, your query is routed to the appropriate WHOIS server based on the domain's top-level domain (TLD) or IP address range.

Distributed Database

WHOIS data is stored across multiple servers maintained by registrars and registries worldwide, ensuring redundancy and reliability.

Real-Time Queries

Each WHOIS lookup queries the current database in real-time, providing the most up-to-date registration information available.

TLD-Specific Servers

Different top-level domains (.com, .org, .net, country codes) use different WHOIS servers managed by their respective registries.

Propagation Delays

Updates to WHOIS records may take 24-48 hours to propagate across all servers, though most changes appear within hours.

Understanding WHOIS Record Fields

A comprehensive guide to reading and interpreting WHOIS data

Registration Information

• Domain Name: The registered domain
• Registrar: Company that registered the domain
• Registration Date: When domain was first registered
• Expiration Date: When domain registration expires
• Updated Date: Last modification to registration

Contact Information

• Registrant: Domain owner contact details
• Administrative Contact: Admin contact info
• Technical Contact: Technical support contact
• Privacy Protected: May show privacy service instead

DNS Information

• Name Servers: DNS servers for the domain
• DNS Records: A, MX, CNAME configurations
• DNSSEC: DNS security extensions status

Status Codes

• clientTransferProhibited: Transfer locked
• serverDeleteProhibited: Deletion protected
• clientRenewProhibited: Renewal restricted
• ok: Domain is active and operational

WHOIS Lookup Best Practices

Tips for effective domain research and investigation

Verify Domain Legitimacy

Check registration dates - recently registered domains may be suspicious. Look for domains registered just days before suspicious activity.

Research Before Purchase

Always check WHOIS before buying a domain. Verify expiration dates, check for transfer locks, and review registration history to avoid potential issues.

Monitor Domain Expiration

Track expiration dates for domains you own or are interested in. Set reminders well before expiration to avoid losing valuable domains.

Protect Your Privacy

Enable WHOIS privacy protection when registering domains to prevent spam, identity theft, and unwanted solicitations. Most registrars offer this service.

Technical Details & Limitations

Important information about WHOIS data accuracy and limitations

Data Accuracy

WHOIS information is maintained by registrars and registries, making it generally reliable. However, there are some limitations to be aware of:

Privacy protection may hide registrant information
Updates may take 24-48 hours to propagate
Some registrars may have incomplete or outdated records
Country-code TLDs may have different data formats
IP address information may be less detailed than domain information

Rate Limiting

Some WHOIS servers implement rate limiting to prevent abuse. If you receive timeout errors, wait a few minutes before retrying. Our tool handles these limitations automatically.

What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a query and response protocol used to look up information about domain names and IP addresses. It provides details about domain registration, ownership, and administrative information. The WHOIS protocol was developed in the early 1980s and has become the standard method for accessing domain registration databases maintained by registrars and domain registries worldwide.

When you perform a WHOIS lookup, you're querying a distributed database system that stores information about every registered domain name on the internet. This information is maintained by domain registrars (companies authorized to register domains) and registries (organizations that manage top-level domains like .com, .org, .net).

Domain Registration Status

Check if a domain is registered or available

Registrar Information

Find out who registered the domain

Expiration Dates

See when the domain expires

Name Servers

View DNS name server information

Why Use WHOIS Lookup?

Domain Research

Research domain ownership and history before purchasing

Security Investigation

Verify domain legitimacy and check for suspicious activity

Network Troubleshooting

Look up IP address information for network diagnostics

Privacy & Security

GDPR & Privacy Protection

Many registrars now use privacy protection services to hide registrant information. If you see "REDACTED FOR PRIVACY" or similar, the domain owner has enabled privacy protection. This became more common after GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) came into effect, which requires protection of personal data in WHOIS databases.

Privacy protection helps domain owners prevent spam, identity theft, and unwanted solicitations while still maintaining transparency for legitimate inquiries. Most registrars offer this service for a small fee or include it free with domain registration.

Understanding WHOIS Records

A WHOIS record contains several key pieces of information that help you understand a domain's registration status and ownership:

Registrar Information

The company that registered the domain (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains)

Registration Dates

Creation date, expiration date, and last update date help track domain history

Name Servers

DNS servers that handle domain name resolution and routing

Status Codes

Domain status indicators like "clientTransferProhibited" or "serverDeleteProhibited"

Common Use Cases

Domain Research & Acquisition

Before purchasing a domain, check its registration history, expiration date, and current status. This helps you understand if the domain is available, when it expires, and who currently owns it.

Security & Fraud Prevention

Verify domain legitimacy, check for suspicious registrations, and investigate potential phishing or scam websites. WHOIS data can reveal if a domain was recently registered or has a suspicious ownership pattern.

Network Troubleshooting

Look up IP address ownership to identify network issues, trace connection problems, and understand routing information. This is valuable for IT professionals and network administrators.

Legal & Compliance

Access domain ownership information for legal purposes, trademark disputes, or compliance investigations. WHOIS records can serve as evidence in legal proceedings.

Brand Protection

Monitor domain registrations that might infringe on your brand, check for typo-squatting, and identify potential trademark violations before they become problems.

WHOIS History & Evolution

The WHOIS protocol has evolved significantly since its creation in 1982. Originally designed for ARPANET administrators to look up contact information, it has become the standard method for accessing domain registration data across the entire internet.

1980s: WHOIS protocol developed for ARPANET network administration

1990s: Expanded to support commercial domain registrations as the internet grew

2000s: ICANN standardized WHOIS requirements for all registrars

2010s: Privacy protection services became widely available

2018: GDPR regulations led to increased privacy protection in WHOIS databases