Subdomains and paths are trimmed to the registered domain.
Domain source
How to use
01
Enter a domain, IP or AS number
Type a name like example.com or paste a full link, and the tool trims it to the registered domain. An IP address such as 8.8.8.8 or an AS number such as AS15169 runs a network WHOIS instead.
02
Press Lookup
Click Lookup or press Enter. In Auto mode the registry's WHOIS server is asked first and RDAP is tried if that fails; pick RDAP only to skip WHOIS. A badge shows which source answered.
03
Read the summary and raw record
Check the age, expiry and transfer lock cards, then the status list with its meanings. Copy the summary, add a renewal reminder (.ics) to your calendar, or open and download the raw record.
Why WHOIS Lookup
- Registrar, key dates, domain status, DNSSEC and nameservers pulled from the live WHOIS record.
- Plain-English meaning for every status code, plus domain age and days until expiry.
- Also looks up IP addresses and AS numbers: network owner, range, country and abuse contact.
- Falls back to RDAP when WHOIS fails, and adds a renewal reminder to your calendar.
WHOIS domain status codes explained
Status codes come from the EPP standard that registries and registrars use. Codes starting with client are set by the registrar, often at the owner's request. Codes starting with server are set by the registry and usually need the registrar to contact the registry to change. A domain can carry several codes at once. The ok code means none of the others apply.
| Status code | Set by | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ok | Registry | Normal state, no locks or pending actions |
| clientTransferProhibited | Registrar | Cannot move to another registrar until unlocked |
| clientUpdateProhibited | Registrar | Contact and nameserver changes are blocked |
| clientDeleteProhibited | Registrar | The domain cannot be deleted |
| clientHold | Registrar | Removed from DNS, so the site and email stop working |
| serverTransferProhibited | Registry | Transfer blocked at the registry, often a registry lock |
| serverHold | Registry | Removed from DNS by the registry |
| addPeriod | Registry | Newly registered and inside the grace period |
| autoRenewPeriod | Registry | Auto-renewed after expiry; the registrar can still cancel |
| redemptionPeriod | Registry | Expired and deleted; the owner can restore it for a fee |
| pendingDelete | Registry | Cannot be restored and will be released soon |
| pendingTransfer | Registry | A transfer to another registrar is in progress |
What GDPR redaction hides, and how to reach a domain owner
Since the GDPR took effect, most registrars publish very little about the person behind a domain. The tool shows a registrant organisation when the record includes one, and says the field is hidden when it is not. Here is what is usually gone, what stays, and the fair ways to get in touch.
- Usually hidden: registrant name, street address, email and phone, and the same for the admin and tech contacts.
- Usually still public: registrar, creation and expiry dates, status codes, nameservers, and sometimes the registrant's organisation, state or country.
- Use the relay email or contact form that many registrars list in the raw record. Messages are forwarded to the owner.
- Check the website itself for a contact page, an imprint or a social profile.
- For legal or abuse matters, contact the registrar's abuse address shown in the record. For generic extensions, ICANN runs a Registration Data Request Service that passes disclosure requests to registrars.
- For trademark disputes, the UDRP process handles most generic extensions without needing the owner's details first.
Common questions
What information does a WHOIS lookup return?
You get the registrar and its IANA ID, the creation, updated and expiry dates, the status codes, DNSSEC, the registrar's abuse contact and the nameservers. The tool also works out the domain's age and the days left until expiry. The registrant's name and contact details are usually redacted, and the summary says so when they are.
Why does the WHOIS record say REDACTED FOR PRIVACY?
Privacy laws such as the GDPR, and the privacy services many registrars add by default, remove personal contact data from public records. The registrar, the dates, the status codes and the nameservers stay public for most extensions. Together they answer most practical questions about a domain even when the owner's name is hidden.
Can I look up who owns an IP address or an AS number?
Yes. Type an IPv4 or IPv6 address, or an AS number such as AS13335, into the same field. The tool asks the regional internet registry through RDAP and shows the network name, address range, organisation, country and abuse contact. For an IP it also adds the network that announces it, the approximate location and the reverse DNS name. It is free and needs no account.
How do I find out when a domain expires using WHOIS?
Run the lookup and read the Expiry card. It shows the days left and the expiry date taken from the Registry Expiry Date line. Also check the status list: a domain in redemptionPeriod has already lapsed and is in its recovery window, which the date alone will not tell you.
What do domain status codes like clientTransferProhibited mean in a WHOIS result?
clientTransferProhibited is a routine registrar lock that stops unauthorized transfers, and seeing it is normal. Codes like pendingDelete or redemptionPeriod mean the domain is on its way out. serverHold or clientHold means the domain has been pulled from DNS and will not resolve. The tool prints a one-line meaning next to every code it finds.
Does WHOIS work for every domain extension?
Generic extensions like .com, .net and .org follow a standard format that parses cleanly. Some country-code extensions return minimal data, unusual layouts or no public WHOIS at all. When the WHOIS reply is unusable the tool tries RDAP, and the raw response is always shown so you can read whatever the registry sent.
What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?
WHOIS is the original protocol: plain text over port 43, with a layout that differs from registry to registry. RDAP returns structured JSON over HTTPS with standard field names. ICANN requires registries and registrars for generic extensions to run RDAP, and some are winding down their old WHOIS servers, which is why this tool falls back to it.
Can a WHOIS lookup reveal the owner if privacy protection is on?
Not directly. The registrant's name, email and phone stay hidden. Many privacy services publish an anonymized relay email or a web contact form in the raw record, and messages sent there are forwarded to the real registrant.
Can I check if a domain is available with this WHOIS lookup?
Partly. If the registry has no record, the tool shows a notice that the domain may be available. Confirm with a registrar before relying on it, because some registries hide records and premium or reserved names can still be unavailable. The tool does not sell domains.
How is the domain age in the WHOIS summary worked out?
It counts from the creation date in the record to today. If a domain expired, was deleted and was later registered again, the creation date resets, so the age only covers the current registration. Google has said domain age on its own is not a ranking factor.