WHOIS Lookup

Free WHOIS/RDAP lookup. See a domain's registrar, registration and expiry dates, nameservers, DNSSEC, and status codes — modern RDAP data, no rate limits.

What is a WHOIS / RDAP lookup?

A WHOIS lookup returns the registration record for a domain: who the registrar is, when it was registered, when it expires, which nameservers are authoritative, and whether DNSSEC is enabled. WhereIsDNS uses RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), the modern JSON-based successor to legacy WHOIS that every gTLD registry is now required to support.

When to run a WHOIS lookup

• Check when a domain expires before it lapses or to time a purchase
• Confirm which registrar controls a domain during a transfer
• Verify the authoritative nameservers match what your DNS provider shows
• Check domain status codes (clientTransferProhibited, pendingDelete, etc.)
• See whether DNSSEC is signed at the registry level

WHOIS vs RDAP

Classic WHOIS is unstructured free text that varies by registry and is being phased out. RDAP returns structured JSON with consistent fields, standardized status codes, and proper internationalization. WhereIsDNS queries RDAP directly so the registrar, dates, and nameservers are parsed reliably. Some country-code TLDs don't yet run an RDAP server — those lookups return a "not supported" notice rather than stale WHOIS text.

FAQ

Why does a WHOIS lookup hide the registrant's contact info?

Since GDPR (2018), registries redact personal contact data by default. RDAP returns the registrar and dates but typically omits the registrant's name, email, and address unless the owner opted to make them public.

What does "clientTransferProhibited" mean?

It's a registrar lock that prevents the domain from being transferred to another registrar without first being unlocked. It's a normal anti-hijacking default, not a problem.

Why is the expiry date important?

If a domain expires, it stops resolving and eventually drops back to the open market. Checking the expiry date lets you renew in time or plan a registration if you're waiting for a name to become available.

Does WHOIS show DNS records?

No. WHOIS/RDAP shows registration data (registrar, dates, nameservers). To see live DNS records and where they've propagated, use the DNS propagation checker — for example an A record lookup or MX lookup.

Background reading

See the DNS Records Explained guide and the DNS glossary for related concepts.