Whois Domain Lookup

Look up a domain's registrar, registration date, expiry date and name servers. Works for .com, .net, .org and most gTLDs and country-code domains.

What a whois lookup shows

Whois, and its modern structured successor RDAP, are public protocols for querying registrar and registry databases. For a given domain the tool returns the core registration data: the accredited registrar, the creation date, the expiry date, the assigned name servers and the current domain status. It queries RDAP first and falls back to classic port-43 whois, so it works for .com, .net, .org, newer gTLDs such as .io or .dev, and most country-code domains like .co, .us, .ca and .uk.

A lookup is useful at several stages. Before buying a name, whois confirms whether it is taken and until when it is paid. For an existing domain it reminds you of the renewal date: if expiry is close, renew early so the name does not lapse into a redemption period. Before transferring to another registrar, whois shows the domain status and name servers, which tell you whether the domain is ready to transfer (for example, not under a transfer lock) and where it currently points.

Key fields in the response

  • Registrar: the company through which the domain is registered.
  • Registered on: when the record was first created.
  • Expires on: the date the current registration period ends.
  • Name servers: the DNS servers responsible for the domain's zone.
  • Status: EPP status codes such as clientTransferProhibited or pendingDelete.

Why the owner's details are hidden

Whois used to show the registrant's name, address and contact details. Today personal data is usually redacted, both because of privacy laws such as GDPR and because many registrars include free privacy protection. Instead of contacts you will see "REDACTED FOR PRIVACY" or a proxy service. That is normal and not a warning sign: the technical part (registrar, dates, name servers and status) stays public and is enough to check availability, expiry and delegation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the expiry date in whois?
It is the date the current registration period ends. If the domain is not renewed by then, it enters a grace or redemption period and can eventually be released.
Why can I not see the owner's name in whois?
Registrant data is usually redacted for privacy under laws such as GDPR or by the registrar's privacy service, so only technical fields remain visible.
Which domain extensions are supported?
Generic TLDs such as .com, .net, .org, .io and .dev, plus most country-code TLDs that publish RDAP or whois data.
How can I tell from whois whether a domain is available?
If no record is found, the name is most likely available. If a registrar and dates come back, the domain is registered.
Why look at name servers in whois?
They show which DNS servers the domain is delegated to, which matters before a transfer and when troubleshooting DNS.
What is the difference between whois and RDAP?
RDAP is the modern replacement for whois: it returns structured JSON over HTTPS with consistent field names, while classic whois returns free-form text that varies by registry.