Whois Lookup

What Is Whois and What Is a Whois Lookup Used For?

WHOIS is the common name for the query protocol that makes domain registration data publicly available and for the databases that hold this data. A Whois lookup tells you which registrar a domain is registered through, when it was created, which name servers (NS) it uses and what its current status is.

For generic top-level domains (gTLDs such as .com, .net and .org), ICANN sets the rules for registration data, while the data itself is published by the registry that operates the extension and by the registrar that manages the domain. For these domains, ICANN has replaced classic WHOIS with RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), a more secure and structured standard. For users the result is the same: fast, accurate access to a domain's registration details.

What Information Does a Whois Record Contain?

The exact fields vary slightly by extension and registrar, but a Whois record usually includes the following:

• Registrar: the company the domain is registered through, its IANA ID and its abuse contact details.
• Dates: the creation date, the last updated date and the domain expiry date, which usually shows the latest date by which the domain must be renewed; your registrar's panel is the definitive source.
• Name servers (NS): the servers where the domain's DNS records are managed, and the first clue to where the website and email are hosted.
• Status codes (EPP status): whether transfer, update or delete locks are in place, or whether the domain is in a post-expiry stage.
• Contact details: the registrant and, depending on the extension, technical or administrative contacts. Today these fields are usually shown as redacted.

Lock and Hold Codes in a Whois Record

Status codes come from EPP, the protocol used for domain registrations, and show which actions are allowed on a domain. The ones you will see most often are:

• clientTransferProhibited: a transfer lock set by the registrar. It must be removed before you can move your domain to another provider.
• clientHold / serverHold: the domain has been put on hold by the registrar (clientHold) or the registry (serverHold) and is not published in DNS, so its website and email stop working. This is usually applied for payment, verification or legal reasons.
• ok (or active): there are no restrictions on the domain and it works normally.
• For the meaning and duration of the redemptionPeriod, pendingRestore and pendingDelete statuses seen on expired domains, see our guide to domain statuses.

Why Are Contact Details Hidden?

Because of data protection rules such as GDPR and Turkey's KVKK, the registrant's name, email address and phone number are hidden in many lookups and shown as REDACTED FOR PRIVACY or similar. On top of that, a WHOIS privacy service shows proxy details in the contact fields instead of yours, greatly reducing spam and unwanted calls. WHOIS privacy is free for domains purchased from Oweb, although availability depends on the rules of each extension.

How to Check a Domain's Expiry Date

You don't need any software to find out when a domain expires; just use the tool at the top of this page:

1. Type the domain name without http, https or www (for example, example.com).
2. Click the Search button; the results open on the same page within seconds.
3. Check the expiry date in the results along with the number of days remaining. In the raw WHOIS output, it appears on a line such as Registry Expiry Date or Expires on, depending on the extension.

For most extensions, an expired domain is not released straight away. First comes a grace period in which the owner can still renew at the regular price, then a redemption period in which the domain can only be restored for an extra fee, and finally the deletion stage. You can compare how long each stage lasts and what it costs for each extension in our domain renewal, redemption and deletion procedures.

When Should You Check a Whois Record?

• If the domain you want is taken: check its creation and expiry dates to keep an eye on it and see which registrar holds it. If it has been put up for sale, it may be listed in our premium domain marketplace. If it is available, you can buy the domain name right away.
• Before a transfer: check which registrar holds the domain, whether the transfer lock is on and when it was registered; transfers may be restricted for a while after a new registration or a recent transfer.
• Security and brand protection: see when a domain that emails you or imitates your brand was registered. Very recent registration dates are a common sign of phishing attempts, and you can report abuse to the registrar's abuse contact.
• Keeping your own domain healthy: regularly check the expiry date, the name servers and whether your registration details are up to date; unverified or invalid contact details can lead to the domain being suspended.

Domains ending in .tr are registered through TRABİS (.tr Network Information System) via accredited registrars. In Whois lookup results for these domains, personal data may be limited and some fields can differ from generic extensions. If you are planning to get a .tr domain, first read our guide to com.tr registration requirements.