Read from the registry, not a cache
Every lookup queries the registry directly over RDAP, so the dates and nameservers are what the registry holds right now rather than a stored copy.
Free WHOIS Lookup — Domain Registration Checker
WHOIS domain lookup
Enter a domain to see what the registry actually publishes — who it is registered through, when it expires, where it points, and what its status codes allow.
WHOIS lookup: what the registry publishes about a domain
A WHOIS lookup asks the registry what it holds for a name. This tool uses RDAP, the structured successor to the old port-43 protocol, so the answer arrives as fields rather than a block of text that varies by registry. You get the sponsoring registrar and its IANA identifier, the registration, update and expiry events, and whether the zone is signed with DNSSEC.
Domain lookup: registration dates, nameservers and status codes
The dates tell you how long a name has been held and when it next needs renewing. The nameservers tell you which DNS provider actually answers for it, which is often the fastest way to identify who runs a site. The EPP status codes tell you what the domain currently permits: a transfer-prohibited lock, a pending delete, a client hold that takes it out of DNS.
Who owns this domain? What redaction means since GDPR
Usually the honest answer is that the registry does not say. Since GDPR most gTLD registries withhold registrant name, address and email by policy, so a lookup returns the registrar rather than the owner. That is the expected result on a normal domain, not a sign of anything hidden. Where a registry does still publish contact data — several ccTLDs do — it is shown as returned.
What to do with what you found
The two changes most often made after reading a domain record.
How to Change Nameservers Without Breaking Your Email
Before changing the nameservers this lookup reports.
How to Point a Domain to a New Website Without Affecting Email
Moving the site while the mail records stay where they are.
Status codes explained, not just listed
EPP status codes decide whether a domain can be transferred, updated or renewed. They are shown with what each one actually prevents.
An honest answer when there is nothing to show
Some extensions publish no RDAP service, and most registries withhold contact data by policy. Both are stated plainly rather than dressed up as a result.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?
They answer the same question in different formats. WHOIS returns free text over port 43 and every registry formats it differently. RDAP returns structured JSON over HTTPS with defined field names, which is why the results here are consistent between extensions. RDAP is the current standard and is what registries are required to run.
Why can I not see who owns the domain?
Because the registry does not publish it. Since GDPR came into force most gTLD registries redact registrant name, address and email, showing only the sponsoring registrar. This applies to almost every .com, .net and .org. It is a policy decision by the registry, not something the domain holder has switched on, and not something a lookup can get around.
What do the status codes mean?
They are EPP status codes and they describe what the domain currently permits. "clientTransferProhibited" is a routine registrar lock that stops an unauthorised transfer. "clientHold" is more serious: the domain is removed from DNS, so it stops resolving. "pendingDelete" means the registration is on its way to expiry. Each result explains the codes it returns.
The lookup says this extension is not supported. Why?
Not every registry publishes an RDAP service. Where a registry has no reachable RDAP endpoint we say so rather than showing an empty result that looks like an answer. Most generic extensions and a growing number of country extensions are covered.
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