What Is WHOIS Lookup & What Is WHOIS Used For?

When you conduct a domain name search and purchase a domain name, you become the registered domain owner of that web address. To make it official, your registrar designates you as the registrant for that domain, connecting it to your name and contact information. And if someone wants to find this information, they can—they simply have to use a WHOIS lookup. 

What is WHOIS lookup? 

WHOIS lookup is a search tool used to explore the WHOIS directory that stores information regarding who owns a website and its registered domain name.  

By understanding WHOIS lookup and how WHOIS data works, you can learn more about your own domain and gain valuable information about other websites and domain owners.

What is WHOIS?

As mentioned, WHOIS is a database that stores information about domain name registrants, making it easier to determine who owns a website and its domains. WHOIS collects this information from various domain registries and registrars, acting as a central repository for any domain registration data. 

WHOIS lookup is a search tool used to find any records related to a domain name or IP address.

The origin and purpose of WHOIS

WHOIS was created in 1982 as a directory for users of ARPANET, an early public computer network that helped lead to the development of the internet. When the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) launched in 1998, it began overseeing the WHOIS database according to its initial protocols. 

As the internet expanded and evolved, ICANN formed agreements with other registries to ensure that WHOIS information remained accurate and easy to access. ICANN’s agreements include policies that require registrars to:

• Protect registrant information from third-party uses 
• Encourage their registrants to regularly update their information 

Understanding the WHOIS database

According to ICANN, the WHOIS database should maintain up-to-date contact details for the domain name owner and other parties who oversee the domain name, such as contacts for technical issues, billing, and general administrative support. 

Contact detail requirements include an address, a phone number, and an email address. WHOIS can also collect other details, such as:

• The domain registrar
• The initial domain name registration date
• The domain name expiration date
• Name servers

Once you figure out how to buy a domain name from an accredited registrar and provide them with your contact information, they update the domain knowledge base. WHOIS can also collect information from registries that manage domain extensions. If you’re wondering “What is a domain extension?”, it is the last part of a domain name that comes after the dot (.), the most common being .COM, .ORG, and .NET. 

If you fail to respond to a verification email from your registrar, they may be at liberty to delete the domain name due to inaccurate contact details. By keeping your data up-to-date, you can remain compliant with ICANN requirements and ensure that you retain domain ownership.

Benefits of WHOIS

So, why is WHOIS important? Maintaining accurate domain registration information is beneficial for both you personally and the overall integrity of the digital landscape. In fact, the WHOIS database system offers several advantages, including:

• Increased transparency – Anyone can look up the owner of a site on WHOIS, encouraging owners to remain accountable for how they use their websites.  

• Better cybercrime prevention – WHOIS can help you investigate scam websites or those using your intellectual property.

• Information accuracy – WHOIS can help you determine the authenticity of a website, making it easier to get information or make purchases from reputable sources.

• Streamlined business transactions – If someone wants to purchase a specific domain name, they can use WHOIS entries to determine if a name is available or reach out to the owner and broker a deal.

WHOIS lookup: How it works

WHOIS lookup works similarly to any other database or search engine. You can enter a domain name or an IP address into the WHOIS search bar and then view any entries associated with your search. The results will also: 

• Show you when the entry was last updated
• Offer suggestions for similar records

WHOIS lookup and DNS lookup are both search tools to help you learn more about a domain name. However, while DNS lookup finds a domain name’s IP address, the WHOIS server provides you with the contact information of a domain’s registrant.

It’s important to note that the information that appears in each WHOIS record may depend on the domain name extension, as some have different privacy settings. For instance, you may find more information about a .COM website compared to a .GOV site. 

Privacy and protection in WHOIS

If you don’t want your contact details to be readily available through WHOIS lookup, you do have a few solutions. In fact, many registrars offer domain privacy tools that allow you to use your registrar or another third party as a proxy contact for your domain name. 

With the launch of the GDPR in 2018, many WHOIS records were redacted in the name of privacy, and registrars began using a tiered system that allows certain parties to gain access to private WHOIS data. For example, members of law enforcement may be able to view domain registrant details that aren’t publicly available.

The relevance of WHOIS in today’s digital age

Although WHOIS has changed since its inception, it still provides an invaluable service that helps individuals stay informed about the sites they visit. As privacy laws evolve, WHOIS protocol will continue to adapt to find a balance between maintaining a functional public database and protecting sensitive personal information. 

Why choose Name.com for your domain needs?

As an ICANN-accredited registrar, Name.com is dedicated to providing accurate WHOIS information and keeping your site compliant with ICANN rules while also protecting your personal details. You can also leverage domain privacy services to remain open to business opportunities and legitimize your site without revealing your personal data or other private information.

Sources: 

WHOIS. https://www.whois.com/whois/

ICANN Lookup. History of WHOIS. https://whois.icann.org/en/history-whois#:~:text=WHOIS%20traces%20its%20roots%20to,transmitting%20data%20across%20the%20ARPANET.
International Trademark Association. The European Union Continues to Tackle the WHOIS Issue. https://www.inta.org/news-and-press/inta-news/the-european-union-tackles-the-whois-issue/