WHOIS is a protocol and database that stores information about domains: the owner, registrar, creation and expiration dates, and DNS servers. This information can help verify a domain’s legitimacy, contact its owner, or check how long the registration is valid.
You can check WHOIS for any domain using WHOIS Lookup on rechecker.ru.
What WHOIS stores
Main fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Domain Name | Domain |
| Registrar | Registrar (GoDaddy, REG.RU, etc.) |
| Creation Date | Registration date |
| Expiration Date | Expiration date |
| Updated Date | Date of last update |
| Name Server | DNS servers |
| Registrant | Registering organization/person |
| Admin Contact | Administrative contact |
| Tech Contact | Technical contact |
GDPR and privacy
After the introduction of GDPR (2018), many registrars hide the personal information (name, email, address) of EU-based domain owners in WHOIS. Instead, «REDACTED» or the details of a privacy proxy service are displayed.
Rules may differ for .ru domains and other zones.
Why WHOIS is useful
1. Checking who owns a domain
Before buying a link, entering into a partnership, or making a deal, check who owns the domain. This reduces the risk of fraud.
2. Checking the expiration date
If a domain expires in a month, the risk of it being taken over or the site being lost is higher. Read more: How to check a domain’s expiration date and avoid losing it.
3. Finding contact details
For complaints about copyright infringement, spam, or phishing, you can find the registrar’s or owner’s contact details.
4. Competitor analysis
The registration date, registrar, and DNS servers provide an idea of how and when a site was created.
5. Checking before a purchase
Make sure the domain is not due to expire soon and that the registrar is reliable.
How to check WHOIS
Command line
whois example.comOnline services
WHOIS Lookup — enter a domain to get a full report.
Output format
The output depends on the zone (TLD). Example for .com:
Domain Name: EXAMPLE.COM
Registry Domain ID: 1234567890_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.registrar.com
Registrar URL: https://registrar.com
Creation Date: 2020-01-15T10:00:00Z
Expiration Date: 2026-01-15T10:00:00Z
Registrant Name: REDACTED FOR PRIVACY
Registrant Email: REDACTED FOR PRIVACY
Name Server: NS1.EXAMPLE.COM
Name Server: NS2.EXAMPLE.COMWHOIS for different zones
| Zone | Features |
|---|---|
| .com, .net, .org | Personal information is often hidden (GDPR) |
| .ru | Information may be public or partially hidden |
| .рф | Cyrillic domain; RosNIIROS rules apply |
| .io, .co | Information is often public |
WHOIS privacy
Privacy services
Registrars offer WHOIS Privacy / Private Registration: proxy details are used instead of your own. This protects against spam and data theft.
Limitations
Privacy is unavailable for some domains (for example, .us). Legal entities in some jurisdictions are required to provide real information.
Checking before buying a domain
- Expiration date — check whether it expires in the coming months
- Creation date — a domain’s “age” affects trust
- Registrar — ease of use of the control panel, prices, support
- History — whether the domain was previously used for spam (check archives and blacklists)
Related checks
- DNS — DNS Lookup shows current DNS records
- Expiration date — How to check a domain’s expiration date