WHOIS lookup: the registry record, explained.
Enter a domain to read its record straight from the registry: registrar, registration and expiry dates, nameservers and status codes. Each status code comes with a sentence on what it means for you.
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- Live registry data
What the WHOIS lookup shows
The WHOIS lookup reads the registration record of a domain from its registry through RDAP, the protocol that replaces WHOIS, and shows it as a readable summary: who the registrar is, when the domain was registered, last changed and when it expires, which nameservers it uses and whether DNSSEC is signed.
The part most lookups leave you to decode is the list of status codes. Here every code is translated: whether the domain is simply locked against transfer (normal), switched off by its registrar (clientHold), or already on its way to being deleted (redemptionPeriod, pendingDelete).
How to read the record
- Registrar: The company the domain is registered through. A transfer, a renewal or an abuse report goes to them, not to the registry.
- Dates: Registered, last changed and expiry, all from the registry and in UTC. “Last changed” moves when the status, the nameservers or the registrar change.
- Nameservers: Where the domain’s DNS is hosted. Nameservers of a parking or marketplace service mean the domain is not in real use.
- Status codes: Codes starting with “client” are set by the registrar, codes starting with “server” by the registry. Redemption period and pending delete mean the domain is dropping.
What a WHOIS lookup no longer shows
- The owner. Since 2018 the name, email and address of the registrant are redacted in most records. Dates, registrar, nameservers and status codes remain public.
- Past owners. The registry record is a snapshot of today. Earlier registrations and owners are not in it.
- Extensions without RDAP. A few country-code registries (for example .se, .nu, .it, .es and .com.tr) do not publish RDAP. Use the registry’s own lookup page for those.
More lookups for the same domain
Related guides: Domain Status Codes Explained: What Each One Means for Buyers, WHOIS History: How to See Who Owned a Domain Before, What Happens When a Domain Expires? Full Timeline
WHOIS Lookup: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?
They answer the same question: who a domain is registered through, since when and in what state. WHOIS is the old plain-text protocol; RDAP is its replacement and returns structured data in a standard format. This lookup uses RDAP and reads the registry directly.
Can I see who owns a domain?
Usually not. Since 2018 most registries and registrars redact the registrant’s personal details. You can still see the registrar and its abuse contact, and most registrars offer a contact form that forwards a message to the owner.
What does clientTransferProhibited mean?
It is the standard transfer lock a registrar puts on a domain so that it cannot be moved to another registrar without the owner unlocking it. Almost every domain has it and it does not indicate a problem.
What do redemptionPeriod and pendingDelete mean?
The domain expired and its registrar deleted it. In the 30-day redemption period only the previous owner can restore it. Pending delete is the final five days, after which the registry releases the domain and anyone can register it.
What does clientHold mean?
The registrar has removed the domain from the DNS, so the website and email stop working while the registration itself still exists. It is common shortly after expiry and after payment or verification problems.
The record tells you today. The archive tells you the rest.
Before buying a domain, read its history: what it published, who linked to it and whether it was ever used for spam.
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