Enter a domain name or IP address to look up whois records
Whois (pronounced "who is") is a query and response protocol widely used for querying databases that store registered users or assignees of an Internet resource such as a domain name, an IP address block, or an autonomous system. The protocol stores and delivers database content in a human-readable format.
The Whois system has been an essential part of the Internet since its early days, maintained by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). When you register a domain name, your registrar is required to submit your contact information to the Whois database, making it publicly accessible.
A Whois search returns various details about a domain or IP address:
Domain Availability: Check if a domain name is already registered before attempting to purchase it. If the whois returns no results, the domain may be available.
Investigate Suspicious Websites: If you encounter a suspicious or potentially fraudulent website, a whois lookup can reveal when it was created and who registered it. Newly registered domains are often associated with phishing and scams.
Verify Domain Ownership: Confirm that a domain belongs to the organization claiming to own it. This is useful for business due diligence and security verification.
Network Troubleshooting: IP whois lookups help identify the organization that owns an IP address range, which is essential for reporting abuse or understanding network routing.
Domain whois queries return information about a registered domain name, including the registrar, registrant contact details, and registration dates. This data is maintained by domain registries and registrars accredited by ICANN.
IP whois queries return information about an IP address allocation, including the organization that owns the IP block, the network name, country, and contact information for abuse reports. This data is maintained by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) such as ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC.
Whois data is generally accurate but can be outdated. Some domain owners use privacy protection services that hide their personal information. Additionally, not all registrants keep their contact details updated.
Since the implementation of GDPR in 2018, many registrars redact personal information from whois records to comply with privacy regulations. You may see "REDACTED FOR PRIVACY" instead of actual contact details.
Yes, you can look up any publicly registered domain name or any public IP address. Private IP ranges (like 192.168.x.x) do not have whois records as they are reserved for internal network use.