WHOIS Lookup

WHOIS Lookup

What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is the public record that every domain name registration creates. It tells you which registrar manages a domain, when it was first registered, when it expires and which nameservers it currently uses. Businesses use WHOIS to research a name before buying, to check an expiry date, to confirm that a domain is pointing at the right hosting and to investigate suspicious websites.

How to read the result

• Registrar: the company that sells and manages the domain.
• Created / Expires: registration dates. A domain that is about to expire can be lost if not renewed.
• Status: codes such as clientTransferProhibited (registrar lock, normal and good for security) or pendingDelete (about to be released).
• Nameservers: where the domain's DNS is hosted. Use our nameserver checker to test them.

Want this domain?

If a domain is taken, check its expiry date, try a different extension on our domain search, or read how to choose a domain name.

Frequently asked questions

What is a WHOIS lookup?

A WHOIS lookup shows the public registration record of a domain name: which registrar it is registered with, when it was created, when it expires, its status and the nameservers it uses.

Why is the owner name hidden?

Most registries and registrars now redact personal contact details (for privacy and data-protection laws such as GDPR), so the registrant name, email and phone are often shown as redacted.

How can I tell if a domain is available?

If the WHOIS record says the domain was not found or has no match, it is not registered and is usually available. Final confirmation happens when you register it.

How do I find out when a domain expires?

Look at the Expiry date in the result. Domains that expire can be lost, so renew early or turn on auto-renewal.

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