WHOIS Lookup

Our free WHOIS lookup tool retrieves registration details for any domain name using the modern RDAP protocol. Enter a domain to see its registrar, creation date, expiry date, nameservers, domain status codes, and DNSSEC status. This WHOIS lookup is essential for domain research, brand protection, investigating suspicious websites, and verifying domain ownership.

What Is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a query and response protocol used to look up information about domain name registrations. Originally defined in RFC 3912, the protocol has been in use since the earliest days of the internet. When you register a domain, your contact details, registration dates, and nameserver information are stored in a public database maintained by domain registrars and registries. WHOIS data helps identify who owns a domain, when it was registered, and when it expires.

What Does This Tool Show?

Our WHOIS lookup tool queries the RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) system — the modern replacement for traditional WHOIS — to retrieve domain registration details including:

• Registrar — The company through which the domain was registered (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare)
• Registration dates — When the domain was created, last updated, and when it expires
• Domain status — EPP status codes like clientTransferProhibited that indicate what operations are allowed
• Nameservers — The DNS servers authoritative for the domain
• DNSSEC — Whether the domain has DNSSEC signing enabled for added security

Understanding Domain Status Codes

Domain status codes (EPP codes) tell you what state a domain is in and what actions are permitted. A WHOIS lookup reveals these codes, which are crucial for understanding a domain’s current condition:

• ok / active — The domain is in normal operation with no restrictions
• clientTransferProhibited — Transfer lock is enabled, preventing unauthorized domain transfers
• clientDeleteProhibited — Delete lock is enabled, preventing accidental deletion
• clientUpdateProhibited — Changes to domain settings are locked
• pendingDelete — The domain is scheduled for deletion and will become available
• redemptionPeriod — The domain has been deleted but can still be restored by the registrant (usually within 30 days)
• serverHold — The registry has suspended the domain (often due to disputes or legal orders)

RDAP vs Traditional WHOIS

This tool uses RDAP instead of the older WHOIS protocol. RDAP provides structured JSON responses (instead of free-form text), supports HTTPS for secure queries, offers better internationalization for non-ASCII domain names, and includes standardized error handling. ICANN has mandated RDAP as the replacement for WHOIS across all generic top-level domains (gTLDs). While a traditional WHOIS lookup returns plain text that varies by registrar, RDAP delivers consistent, machine-readable data.

WHOIS Privacy and GDPR

Since the implementation of GDPR in 2018, most registrars redact personal information from public WHOIS records for domains registered by individuals. Contact details like name, email, phone, and address are typically replaced with “REDACTED FOR PRIVACY” or the registrar’s proxy information. This means that while a WHOIS lookup still shows registration dates, nameservers, and status codes, personal contact details are usually hidden for privacy compliance.

WHOIS Lookup Use Cases

A WHOIS lookup is valuable in many situations: checking if a domain name is available for registration, investigating phishing or scam websites, verifying the legitimacy of an online business, monitoring competitor domain registrations, researching domain history for SEO purposes, and confirming nameserver configuration during domain transfers or migrations.

Domain Lifecycle

Understanding the domain lifecycle helps interpret WHOIS data. A domain goes through these stages: registration → active use → expiration → grace period (typically 30–45 days where it can be renewed) → redemption period (30 days, requires a fee to restore) → pending delete (5 days) → released for re-registration. Monitoring expiry dates through regular WHOIS lookups helps prevent accidental domain loss.

DNSSEC and Domain Security

DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) adds a layer of authentication to DNS by digitally signing zone data. When DNSSEC is enabled, resolvers can verify that DNS responses have not been tampered with in transit. This WHOIS lookup tool shows whether a domain has DNSSEC enabled, which is increasingly considered a security best practice, especially for domains handling sensitive data or financial transactions.

Related Tools

To check the DNS records configured for a domain, use our DNS Lookup tool. To verify the domain’s SSL certificate validity and expiration, try our SSL Certificate Checker.