What is WHOIS
WHOIS is an internet protocol for querying domain name databases. It provides public information about a registered domain: its owner, registrar, registration and expiration dates, contact details, and DNS servers.
The protocol was developed in 1982 (RFC 812) and remains the primary tool for obtaining information about domains. WHOIS queries are sent to registrar and registry servers over TCP port 43.
After GDPR was introduced in 2018, many registrars began hiding domain owners' personal information. Instead of actual contact details, you may see "Data Redacted for Privacy" or proxy details.
Why WHOIS is useful
Buying a domain: check whether a domain is available and, if it is taken, find the owner's contact details to negotiate a purchase.
Checking before a partnership: make sure the site has been around for a while and belongs to a legitimate company.
SEO analysis of competitors: find out the domain's age, registration history, and the NS servers it uses.
Security: check a new domain before following a link—fraudulent sites often use throwaway domains.
Brand monitoring: track registrations of domains that resemble your brand (typosquatting).
What WHOIS shows
Typical information in a WHOIS query:
Domain Name: EXAMPLE.COM
Registry Domain ID: 2336799_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar: Example Registrar LLC
Creation Date: 1995-08-14T04:00:00Z
Updated Date: 2022-08-14T07:01:38Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2023-08-13T04:00:00Z
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.example-registrar.com
Name Server: NS1.EXAMPLE.COM
Name Server: NS2.EXAMPLE.COM
DNSSEC: signedDelegation
Key fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Creation Date | Domain registration date |
| Expiry Date | Registration expiration date |
| Registrar | Domain registrar |
| Name Server | Domain DNS servers |
| Status | Domain status (active, clientHold, etc.) |
| DNSSEC | DNSSEC signing status |
Domain statuses
clientTransferProhibited — transfer to another registrar is prohibited (standard status)
clientUpdateProhibited — changes to the data are prohibited
clientDeleteProhibited — deletion is prohibited
serverHold — the registry has frozen the domain (it may be disputed or in violation of the rules)
redemptionPeriod — the domain is in the recovery period (30-90 days after expiration)
WHOIS for Russian domains
For .ru and .рф domains, WHOIS is operated by the Coordination Center for TLD RU (tcinet.ru). You can look up the data:
whois -h whois.tcinet.ru rechecker.ruUsing Bash or the Windows command line (whois rechecker.ru).
Check with reChecker
Use WHOIS Lookup to quickly check any domain. The tool shows:
- Domain registration and expiration dates
- Registrar and contact details
- DNS servers
- Domain statuses
FAQ
Why doesn't WHOIS show the domain owner? Since GDPR, most registrars have hidden the personal details of individual domain owners. Details for legal entities may be public. Try requesting the data directly from the registrar.
How can I find out a domain's age? The "Creation Date" field in WHOIS shows the date of the original registration. Domain age is an important SEO factor: older domains usually have greater authority.
Can WHOIS data be used for mailing lists? No. Using WHOIS data for spam and unsolicited mailings is prohibited by ICANN rules and those of most registrars. It also violates GDPR.