WHOIS Lookup – Find Domain Registration Details

WHOIS is a public database that stores information about registered domain names. A WHOIS lookup queries this database to retrieve details like who registered the domain, when it was registered, when it expires, and which nameservers it uses. It's like looking up property records for internet domains. The WHOIS protocol has been in use since 1982, predating the World Wide Web itself.

Since GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) came into effect in May 2018, most domain registrars hide personal information in WHOIS records to protect privacy. You'll often see 'REDACTED FOR PRIVACY' or the registrar's privacy service instead of actual owner details. This is normal and now affects most .com, .net, .org, and other popular domains. Business domains may still show organization details.

WHOIS data comes directly from domain registries and registrars, so technical information like registration dates, expiry dates, nameservers, and status codes are highly accurate. However, registrant contact information may be outdated if the owner hasn't updated it, intentionally false (which violates ICANN rules), or redacted for privacy protection.

Yes! If our WHOIS lookup returns no registration data, the domain is likely available for registration. However, we recommend double-checking with your preferred registrar, as some TLDs have restrictions, premium pricing, or reserved domains that won't show in WHOIS but still can't be registered.

Status codes (EPP codes) indicate the domain's current state. 'clientTransferProhibited' means transfers are locked by the registrar, 'serverHold' means the domain is suspended by the registry (usually for policy violations), 'pendingDelete' means it's scheduled for deletion, and 'ok' or 'active' means normal operation with no restrictions. Our tool explains each status code in plain English.

Domain age is a trust signal in multiple contexts. Search engines may consider older domains more established (though Google says age itself isn't a direct ranking factor). Security systems use domain age to detect phishing—newly registered domains are more suspicious. Businesses and consumers perceive older domains as more credible. Domain investors also value aged domains for their perceived authority.

For privacy-protected domains, many registrars offer forwarding services where messages sent to the proxy email address are forwarded to the actual owner. Look for an email like 'owner@privacyproxy.com' in the WHOIS results. You can also try the 'Contact Form' links some registrars provide. For legal matters, you may need to submit a formal request through the registrar's abuse department.

We support most common TLDs including .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .co, and many country-code TLDs like .uk, .de, .ca, .au. Some newer gTLDs and restricted TLDs may have limited WHOIS information or use different data formats. If you get an error or incomplete results for a specific TLD, try our DNS Lookup tool to at least verify the domain's technical records.

DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a security feature that adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records. When DNSSEC is 'signed' or enabled, it provides protection against DNS spoofing attacks where attackers try to redirect your traffic to malicious servers. While not all domains use DNSSEC, it's recommended for security-conscious sites, especially those handling sensitive data.

WHOIS records update whenever domain information changes—registration, renewal, transfer, nameserver changes, or contact updates. Changes typically appear within minutes to hours. We cache results for 24 hours to reduce load on WHOIS servers. If you've just made changes to your domain and don't see them reflected, wait a few hours and try again.

The registry (like Verisign for .com) maintains the authoritative WHOIS database for a TLD. The registrar (like GoDaddy or Namecheap) is where you actually register domains. Registry WHOIS shows basic ownership and registrar info. Registrar WHOIS may show more contact details. Our tool queries appropriate sources to get the most complete data available.

Our free tool shows current WHOIS data only. Historical WHOIS records (sometimes called 'WHOIS History' or 'Reverse WHOIS') are available through specialized services like DomainTools, which archive WHOIS snapshots over time. These can show previous owners, when ownership changed, and how contact details evolved.

WHOIS data has usage restrictions. ICANN's terms prohibit using WHOIS for mass marketing, spam, or automated data collection without permission. Many jurisdictions also have privacy laws restricting unsolicited contact. Using WHOIS to contact domain owners for legitimate business purposes (like buying a domain) is generally acceptable, but mass email campaigns using scraped WHOIS data violate terms of service.

WHOIS data varies by TLD because each registry sets its own policies. Some TLDs (like .us or some ccTLDs) require registrant information to be public. Others default to privacy protection. Different registries also use different data formats, which is why some WHOIS lookups return more fields than others. The registrar's policies and the owner's privacy settings also affect what's displayed.

Domain age refers to how long since the domain was first registered. While Google has stated that domain age alone isn't a direct ranking factor, older domains often have accumulated backlinks, content history, and established authority over time. Domain age can also affect trust signals—brand new domains are more likely to be associated with spam. Our tool calculates domain age automatically from the creation date.

Check several factors: domain age (very new domains are riskier), registrant information (legitimate businesses often display their details), and registration location (does it match the business's claimed location?). Suspicious signs include domains registered days before you received an email, privacy-protected business domains, and mismatches between claimed company location and registration country.