WHOIS Lookup

Look up domain registration information including registrar, expiration dates, and nameservers.

Command Line

$ curl https://dnsx.dev/whois/example.com

Understanding WHOIS & Domain Registration

WHOIS is a public query protocol that provides registration information about domain names, IP addresses, and autonomous systems. When you register a domain, your registrar submits your information to the appropriate registry, and this data becomes queryable through the WHOIS protocol. It serves as the internet's directory of domain ownership and is essential for network administration, abuse reporting, and legal investigations.

The domain name system operates on a lifecycle: domains are registered through accredited registrars, can be transferred between registrars, must be renewed before expiration, and eventually become available for re-registration if not renewed. Our WHOIS lookup tool retrieves this information in real-time, showing you the current state of any domain including its registrar, key dates, nameservers, and status codes that indicate locks, holds, or pending operations.

WHOIS & Domain Concepts Explained

RDAP Transition

RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is replacing legacy WHOIS with structured JSON responses, HTTPS transport, and standardized access controls mandated by ICANN for all registries.

Domain Lifecycle

Domains progress through stages: registration, active use, expiration, grace period (30-45 days), redemption period (30 days at premium cost), and pending delete before becoming available again.

Transfer Locks

The clientTransferProhibited status prevents unauthorized domain transfers. Most registrars enable this by default. It must be removed before initiating a legitimate transfer to a new registrar.

WHOIS Privacy

Privacy protection replaces personal registrant details with proxy information. Since GDPR, most registrars automatically redact personal data for European registrants from public WHOIS results.

Nameserver Delegation

WHOIS data includes the authoritative nameservers for a domain. These NS records in the registry determine which DNS servers control the domain's zone and handle all DNS queries for it.

EPP Status Codes

EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) codes describe domain states. Client-level codes are set by registrars, server-level codes by registries. Multiple codes can be active simultaneously on a single domain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a WHOIS lookup?▼

A WHOIS lookup queries a public database to retrieve registration information about a domain name. This includes the registrar (the company where the domain was registered), creation and expiration dates, nameserver configuration, and domain status codes. WHOIS data is maintained by domain registries and registrars and is available for most top-level domains (TLDs) including .com, .net, .org, and country-code TLDs.

Is WHOIS data public?▼

Historically, WHOIS data including registrant contact information was fully public. However, since the introduction of GDPR in 2018, most registrars redact personal information from WHOIS results for domains registered by individuals in the EU and often globally. You can still see the registrar name, registration and expiration dates, nameservers, and domain status codes. Many registrars also offer WHOIS privacy protection services that replace personal details with proxy information.

What are domain status codes?▼

Domain status codes (also called EPP status codes) indicate the current state of a domain. Common codes include: clientTransferProhibited (prevents unauthorized transfers), clientDeleteProhibited (prevents accidental deletion), serverHold (domain is suspended by the registry), pendingDelete (domain is being deleted), and redemptionPeriod (domain can still be recovered after expiration). The "ok" status means no restrictions are in place. Multiple status codes can be active simultaneously.

How do I find when a domain expires?▼

Use our WHOIS lookup tool to check the expiration date of any domain. Enter the domain name and look for the "Expires" date in the results. Most domains are registered for 1-10 years and must be renewed before expiration. After a domain expires, it enters a grace period (typically 30-45 days), then a redemption period (another 30 days at higher cost), and finally becomes available for anyone to register.

What is RDAP?▼

RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern replacement for the traditional WHOIS protocol. RDAP provides structured, machine-readable JSON responses instead of free-form text, supports standardized authentication and access control, uses HTTPS for secure queries, and offers better internationalization support. ICANN has mandated that all registries and registrars support RDAP, and it is gradually replacing legacy WHOIS as the primary domain registration lookup protocol.