Check domain ownership, registration dates, nameservers and registrar information with BurtiNET's free WHOIS lookup service.
Everything you need to know about WHOIS lookup and domain information
WHOIS is a publicly accessible database protocol used to query the registration details of domain names, IP addresses, and autonomous system numbers. When you perform a WHOIS query, you can learn information such as the domain owner, registration and expiration dates, nameservers, and registrar company. WHOIS data is maintained by ICANN and regional internet registries.
WHOIS lookup is used for many purposes: checking domain availability before registration, verifying domain ownership, reporting trademark violations, tracking spam and cyber threats to their source, resolving technical issues, and gathering competitor intelligence. It is also an essential tool for cybersecurity professionals and law enforcement.
A typical WHOIS query result includes: domain name, registrar company name, registration (creation) date, last update date, expiration date, domain status codes (such as clientTransferProhibited), nameserver addresses, and – if privacy protection is not enabled – the registrant's contact information. Due to GDPR and privacy regulations, personal information may be masked.
WHOIS privacy protection (also known as ID Protection or Domain Privacy) replaces your personal information in the WHOIS database with the registrar's proxy information. This way, your name, address, phone number, and email address are not publicly visible. This is a particularly important security measure against spam, phishing, and identity theft.
Domain status codes indicate the current state and restrictions of a domain. For example: "clientTransferProhibited" means the transfer lock is active, "serverHold" means DNS resolution is suspended, "active/ok" means the domain is functioning normally, and "pendingDelete" means the domain will be released soon. These codes are defined by ICANN's EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) standard.
Yes, the WHOIS lookup service offered on the BurtiNET website is completely free and unlimited. You can query any domain name at any time to check its registration details, availability status, and technical information at no cost.
WHOIS (pronounced "Who is") is a query-response protocol used to look up information about registered domain names and IP addresses. When any domain name is registered on the internet, the registrant's information is recorded in the WHOIS database. This system was first developed in the 1980s and is coordinated by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) today.
The WHOIS protocol works through distributed databases maintained by domain registrars and registry operators. When you perform a WHOIS query, your request is forwarded to the relevant registry, and the database returns the available information for that domain name.
A standard WHOIS query result includes the following information: Domain name and its current status, registrar (registration company) information, domain creation (registration) date, last update date, registration expiration date, nameserver (DNS) addresses, domain status codes (EPP status), and if privacy protection is not enabled, the registrant's name, organization, address, phone number, and email address.
With the enforcement of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, significant changes were introduced to WHOIS data disclosure. Previously, all registrant personal information was publicly accessible through WHOIS queries. However, under GDPR, personally identifiable information has been removed from public WHOIS outputs and only technical and administrative information is displayed. Many registrars now offer WHOIS Privacy Protection service, with which personal data is completely masked.
Domain status codes are standardized codes defined by the EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) protocol that indicate the current state and restrictions of a domain name. These codes directly affect the operation, transfer, and renewal of the domain.
The most common status codes are: "ok" or "active" indicates the domain is functioning normally with no restrictions. "clientTransferProhibited" means the registrar has locked transfer, so the domain cannot be transferred to another registrar without authorization. "clientHold" means the registrar has suspended DNS resolution and the domain will not resolve. "pendingDelete" means the domain will be deleted soon and will become available for new registration.
WHOIS lookup plays a critical role in cybersecurity. Security professionals learn the source of a domain used in phishing, malware distribution, or spam campaigns through WHOIS queries. Law enforcement agencies use WHOIS data to trace cybercriminals. Additionally, businesses report intellectual property violations against their brand by identifying infringing domains through WHOIS lookup.
Domains used in cybersecurity threat analysis are usually examined with a combination of WHOIS, DNS records, and IP geolocation data. This combination allows security teams to perform faster and more effective threat analysis.
If your WHOIS query result shows that the domain is not registered (available), you can register that domain name immediately through BurtiNET. After choosing from over 500 domain extensions with the most affordable prices, you can complete your registration in minutes and put your domain into use instantly. Free DNS management, WHOIS privacy protection, and email forwarding services are included with all domain registrations.
