WHOIS Lookup — domain registration details
Look up WHOIS registration data for any domain instantly — registrar, creation date, expiry date, nameservers, and registration status. Enter a full URL or bare domain name. Results are fetched server-side from the authoritative WHOIS database. Free, no signup required.
What is a WHOIS lookup?
WHOIS is a query-response protocol used to look up domain name registration records. When a domain is registered, the registrar (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap) submits registration data to ICANN-accredited WHOIS databases. This data includes the registrar name, registration and expiry dates, nameservers, and registration status codes.
WHOIS data is used for: verifying domain ownership, checking expiry dates (to avoid accidental domain loss), finding nameservers (when debugging DNS propagation), and investigating suspicious domains (security research, phishing detection). Note: many registrars now redact personal contact information under GDPR and CCPA regulations, so registrant name and email may not be available for all domains.
Frequently asked questions
- Since GDPR came into effect in 2018, most registrars redact personal contact information (name, email, phone, address) for domain registrants who are individuals. ICANN's Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) policies require redaction by default. Some registrars offer WHOIS privacy as an add-on that replaces contact info with the registrar's own details. Business domains may still show contact info if registered as an organization.
- The expiry date (sometimes labelled "Registry Expiry Date" or "Expiration Date") is shown in the WHOIS record. Set a calendar reminder 60 days before expiry — many registrars auto-renew but payment failures can cause domains to lapse. Once a domain expires, it enters a grace period (typically 30–45 days), then a redemption period (30–60 days with steep recovery fees), and then becomes available to the public.
- WHOIS shows the registrar name, which is the first step in a transfer. To transfer a domain: 1) Unlock the domain at the current registrar and request the authorization code (EPP code). 2) Initiate the transfer at the new registrar using the EPP code. 3) The old registrar will send a confirmation email to the registrant. Domain transfers take 5–7 business days under ICANN rules.
- "clientTransferProhibited" means the registrar has locked the domain to prevent unauthorized transfers — normal for active domains. "serverTransferProhibited" means the registry has locked it (usually for legal reasons). "addPeriod" means the domain was recently registered and is in a 5-day add grace period. "redemptionPeriod" means the domain has expired. "pendingDelete" means the domain is queued for deletion.
Related tools
- → DNS Lookup — query A, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME, and SOA records
- → SSL Certificate Checker — verify SSL cert validity, expiry, and chain trust
- → Redirect Tracer — trace the full redirect chain for any URL
Related reading: How to Do a WHOIS Lookup — What the Data Means