What is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a public database that stores registration information about domain names. When someone registers a domain, their contact details and registration dates are recorded.
RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern replacement for WHOIS, providing the same data in a structured JSON format.
What WHOIS tells you
- Registrar — The company where the domain was purchased (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
- Registration date — When the domain was first registered
- Expiry date — When the registration will lapse if not renewed
- Last updated — When the record was last modified
- Status codes — Technical flags about the domain's state
Common Status Codes
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
clientTransferProhibited | Transfer locked by registrar |
clientDeleteProhibited | Cannot be deleted |
redemptionPeriod | Domain expired, in grace period |
pendingDelete | About to be released |
Privacy and GDPR
Since GDPR (2018), most registrars hide personal information behind privacy services. You'll often see "REDACTED FOR PRIVACY" instead of actual contact details.