A protocol from 1982 that lets anyone ask a registry who a domain, an IP block or an AS number is assigned to. Each registry keeps its own database and answers in its own format, which is why the raw text is shown along with the summary.

Why is the domain owner not shown?

Most registries hide personal data of individuals, and many owners use a privacy service. Companies are still visible more often than not. Dates, status and name servers are always public.

What does WHOIS tell about an IP address?

Which block it belongs to and who holds the block: an internet provider, a hosting company or an organisation. It does not name the person using the address — providers don’t publish that.

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Registry records

WHOIS lookup

Who registered a domain and when it expires, who owns an IP range, who runs an autonomous system. Our server asks the registries directly over the WHOIS protocol and shows their answers as they are.

nothing looked up yet

Queries go from our server to the registries and, for domains, on to the registrar. Answers are kept for an hour so repeated lookups don’t hit the registries again.

What WHOIS shows

Domains: Registrar, creation, update and expiry dates, status codes, name servers and DNSSEC. The registry answers first; for most generic domains the registrar’s own WHOIS is asked too.
IP addresses: The address block the IP belongs to, its name, the organisation it is assigned to, country, status and the abuse contact — from the regional registry (RIPE, ARIN, APNIC, LACNIC or AFRINIC).
AS numbers: The network operator behind an autonomous system: name, organisation, country and abuse contact. Write it as AS15169 or just 15169.
Hidden data: Since 2018 most registries redact personal data of domain holders: instead of a name you see “REDACTED FOR PRIVACY” or a privacy service. That is the registry’s choice, not a fault of the lookup.

WHOIS questions

What is WHOIS?: A protocol from 1982 that lets anyone ask a registry who a domain, an IP block or an AS number is assigned to. Each registry keeps its own database and answers in its own format, which is why the raw text is shown along with the summary.
Why is the domain owner not shown?: Most registries hide personal data of individuals, and many owners use a privacy service. Companies are still visible more often than not. Dates, status and name servers are always public.
What does WHOIS tell about an IP address?: Which block it belongs to and who holds the block: an internet provider, a hosting company or an organisation. It does not name the person using the address — providers don’t publish that.