What Is WHOIS Lookup and How to Use It
WHOIS reveals who owns a domain, when it was registered, and which registrar manages it. Learn what WHOIS does and when to use it.
What Is WHOIS Lookup and How to Use It
WHOIS is a public protocol that returns ownership and registration details for any domain name. It's the first stop when investigating a website, buying a domain, or chasing down abuse.
What WHOIS Tells You
- Registrar (the company that sold the domain)
- Registration, expiry and last-updated dates
- Name servers in use
- Owner contact details (unless privacy protected)
Look up any domain's WHOIS record now.
Try WHOIS LookupCommon Uses for WHOIS
- Verifying a domain is genuinely owned by a company
- Negotiating to buy an unused domain
- Reporting abuse to the right registrar
- Tracking when a domain expires
Why Some WHOIS Data Is Hidden
Since GDPR (2018), most personal contact info is masked behind privacy services. Registrar, dates and name servers remain public.
WHOIS vs DNS
WHOIS tells you who owns a domain. DNS tells you where it points. Use both together to get the full picture.
Combine WHOIS with our DNS Lookup for full insight.
Open DNS ToolFrequently Asked Questions
Is WHOIS lookup legal?+
Yes. WHOIS data is published by registries under ICANN policy specifically so the public can identify and contact domain operators. Looking it up is always legal.
Why is the owner's name hidden on most WHOIS records?+
Since GDPR took effect in 2018, registrars mask personal data of EU registrants and most apply the same protection globally for consistency. Registrars can still disclose details under legal request.
Can I hide my own WHOIS information?+
Yes — most registrars offer free WHOIS privacy that replaces your details with a forwarding proxy. ICANN still requires accurate records on file with the registrar.
What does 'clientTransferProhibited' mean in a WHOIS record?+
It's a registrar-level lock that prevents the domain from being transferred to another registrar without first being unlocked — a basic protection against domain hijacking.
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WHOIS Lookup
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