What Is WHOIS & How To Use It To Lookup A Domain?

What is WHOIS? When someone buys a domain name, their basic details, such as who owns it, when it was registered, and when it expires, are stored in a public database called WHOIS. It’s managed by a global group called ICANN, which helps people discover who’s behind a domain. WHOIS is useful for many reasons. It helps you check if a domain is already taken, see who owns it, and even learn when it might become available again. It’s also helpful for stopping scams, as it lets people verify whether a website is real.

This guide explains ‘What is WHOIS?’, how it works, and how to use it to look up any domain name. You’ll also learn about privacy, what kind of info you’ll see in a WHOIS search, and how to protect your details when registering a domain name.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• WHOIS shows public details about domain ownership, registration dates, and name servers.
• You can access WHOIS using online tools or the command line.
• Some information may be hidden due to privacy services or GDPR rules.
• WHOIS is useful for checking domain availability, verifying ownership and reporting abuse.
• WHOIS has limits, and RDAP is replacing it with more secure, structured access.

What Is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a lookup tool that gives you important information about domain names, IP addresses, and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). It works through a query-response process, pulling data from various databases managed by domain name services and Regional Internet Registries (RIRs).

When you perform a WHOIS search, you’ll usually see the following details:

• The domain owner’s contact info (unless privacy protection is in place).
• The domain’s registration and expiration dates.
• The managing company.
• And the domain’s name servers.

Originally, WHOIS used a simple text-based protocol over port 43. Users had to send queries directly to WHOIS servers and read raw text responses. These days, you don’t need to deal with that complexity; most people use web-based WHOIS tools or command-line tools (we’ll learn about these later).

The main goal of WHOIS is to support internet transparency. It helps you confirm who owns a domain, see when it expires, check DNS details, and even reach out to the owner for valid reasons, like buying the domain or reporting spam or abuse.

WHOIS policies are managed by ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which rules how domain registration companies collect and share domain data, especially for generic Top-Level Domains (TLDs) like .com or .net. However, privacy laws, most notably the EU’s GDPR, have changed how much information WHOIS can show.

Many records now hide personal details unless the domain owner has chosen to keep them public. Instead, you’ll often see that details have been removed or will be given proxy contact information.

It’s also worth noting that WHOIS searches don’t use one central database. Instead, the information is spread across many services and RIRs, depending on the domain type or IP range. Also, a new system, Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP), is slowly replacing WHOIS with more structured, secure, and standardized access to domain data.

Even with these updates, it is still a powerful tool. Whether researching a domain name, checking for possible fraud, or managing networks, it helps you find the information you need quickly and easily.

What Information Does WHOIS Provide?

When you run a WHOIS lookup, you’ll see a list of details about the domain name, which helps you learn more about who owns the domain, how it’s being managed, and when it might become available.

• Registrant Details: This includes the name of the person or business that owns the domain, along with their email address and phone number. If privacy protection is turned on, you may only see proxy or hidden contact info instead of real names.
• Domain Provider Information: This tells you which company registered the domain, such as Hosted.com, the service that manages the domain on behalf of the owner.
• Domain Status: This tells you if the domain is active, expired, locked, or on hold. Locked status means the domain can’t be transferred until it’s unlocked, which helps prevent domain theft.
• Important Dates: You’ll also find some important dates, including when the domain was first registered, the last time it was updated, and when it will expire. These dates help you track how long the domain has been active and when it expires.
• Name Servers: These are the DNS servers that the domain uses to point to a hosting server. If you’re troubleshooting a website or changing hosts, this information can help you understand how the domain is connected to the internet.

How to Use WHOIS to Look Up a Domain

A WHOIS lookup is simple and doesn’t take much time. You can use online tools or the command line, depending on what you’re comfortable with. Either way, the goal is to find public details about a domain name. Let’s explore 3 ways to learn how to perform a WHOIS lookup:

Method 1: Online WHOIS Lookup (Easiest Way)

The simplest way to do a WHOIS lookup is by using a free online tool. Just go to any of the following trusted WHOIS websites:

1. ICANN Lookup
2. Who.is
3. DomainTools

Once you’re on the site, enter the domain name you want to check (e.g., example.com) into the search box and click Search or Lookup, depending on what tool you use.

The WHOIS record will appear in just a few seconds, showing details such as the registrant’s name and company, the domain’s registration and expiration dates, and the name servers used. If the domain owner hasn’t enabled privacy protection, you’ll see their contact details, too.

Method 2: Command Line Lookup (Advanced)

This is a great method if you’re comfortable with a command line tool. If you use Windows, press Win + R, type cmd, and click OK to open Command Prompt. Then enter the following command:

whois example.com

Note that Windows doesn’t come with the WHOIS command built in. Download the Sysinternals WHOIS tool, unzip the file, open Command Prompt in the same folder, and run the whois command.

However, if using Linux or macOS, you should open the Terminal and run the same command. Remember, the whois is pre-installed on most Linux distributions. If this isn’t installed, use sudo apt install whois.

Method 3: Through Your Domain Provider

Most domain name services provide a built-in WHOIS lookup tool in their dashboard or navigation menu. Look for an option or search bar called WHOIS lookup.

Here’s how to use the Hosted.com WHOIS tool:

Go to Hosted.com’s WHOIS Search page.

Type in the domain name and click the orange Search icon.

You’ll now be shown the WHOIS record. This is a convenient option if you manage several domains and want to check WHOIS info without switching websites.

Why Use WHOIS?

So far, we’ve learned:

• What is Whois?
• What information does it provide?
• And how to use it?

Now, it’s time to explore why you should use it. A WHOIS search is more than just a tool to find website details. It can help with research, safety, and even legal matters. Whether buying a domain or checking if a website is safe, WHOIS gives you the information you need to make wise decisions.

One common reason for using WHOIS is to verify domain ownership. If someone claims to own a domain, you can check the WHOIS record to see if that’s true. This is helpful when purchasing domains or working on partnerships.

You can also use it to check if a domain is available. If you’re starting a website and want a specific domain, a quick lookup will tell you if it’s already taken or still open to register.

For cybersecurity, WHOIS can help identify risky websites. If you find a suspicious site or get a phishing email, you can use WHOIS to see who registered the domain, when it was created, and if anything looks unusual. This helps security teams block threats or report bad actors.

It is also useful for legal and compliance reasons. If there’s a trademark issue or domain name conflict, the WHOIS record can support legal claims by showing who registered the domain and when. Lawyers, businesses, and investigators often rely on WHOIS to trace ownership and settle disputes.

What is WHOIS Privacy & Data Protection?

When registering a domain name, your contact details (name, email, phone number, and address) can be published through WHOIS. This raises privacy concerns because anyone can look up that information unless steps are taken to protect it.

To help with this, many domain services offer privacy protection. These services replace your data with generic or proxy contact details. So, instead of showing your real email or phone number, WHOIS will display alternate info that protects your identity while allowing people to contact you if necessary.

Another big change to WHOIS privacy came with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. This law limits the kind of personal data that can be shown in public databases.

Since GDPR took effect, most have started hiding personal details, like full names or emails, for domain owners in the EU. Because of this, WHOIS records now show less information for many domains, especially if the owner is covered under GDPR.

These changes help protect your privacy and make it harder to find full ownership details unless you are part of a legal or security investigation. Still, privacy services and GDPR rules play a huge role in keeping data safe when managing a domain.

Limitations & Challenges of WHOIS

While a WHOIS lookup is a helpful tool, it isn’t perfect. One major issue is data accuracy. Sometimes, the information in a WHOIS record is outdated or false. Domain owners may enter fake names or emails or forget to update their details. That makes it harder to know who owns a domain or how to reach them.

Another challenge is balancing privacy and transparency. People want their private information to stay private, but there’s a need for open access to domain data for security checks, legal reasons, or business research. Finding that middle ground can be tricky, especially with GDPR laws restricting public access to private data.

Also, access to WHOIS data can be limited. Some services now hide more details or only show limited records. Others may require you to log in or prove a valid reason before giving full access. This means that, when using WHOIS tools, you may not always get the complete picture.

Despite these challenges, WHOIS is still a useful system. But it’s important to understand its limits and know that you might not always find every detail you want.

Alternatives & Future of Domain Information Access

As privacy rules get stricter and technology improves, the way we access domain data changes. One of the biggest updates is the move from WHOIS to RDAP.

RDAP is built to fix many of the problems that come with WHOIS. It uses a structured format, making data easier to read and work with. It also supports HTTPS, which means the connection is secure.

Another big plus is that RDAP can show different levels of data based on who’s making the request. For example, a security team may see more info than a regular user, making RDAP better at protecting personal details without blocking important access.

Alongside this shift, there are ongoing discussions about data privacy and access. Companies like ICANN and data protection agencies are working on new rules that balance user privacy with the need for transparency online. These policies could change how much domain information is shared publicly and who can see it.

You now know, ‘What is WHOIS?’ However, it’s slowly being replaced by RDAP across many services and systems. If you’re checking domain details now or in the future, you may notice changes in how the data looks or how much of it you can see. This evolution is to keep the internet safer, clearer, and more respectful of privacy.

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Other Blogs of Interest

– Private vs Public Domain Registration: What’s the Difference?

– What is Domain Protection?

– The Right Domain Name Can Help Your Business

– How to Get a Free Domain Name and a Free SSL Certificate

– Private Registration For A Domain Name: Pros And Cons