What Is WHOIS And What Is A WHOIS Check?

When you register a domain, you're not just picking a name—you're also creating a public record. That record is accessible through something called WHOIS, and it contains details about who registered the domain, when it was registered, and where it's managed. Whether you're buying a domain, checking ownership, or trying to avoid spam, understanding how WHOIS works can be useful.

This article walks through what WHOIS is, how to run a check, what information you can expect to find, and how to keep your own domain details out of public view.

What Is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a lookup service that provides publicly available information about domain name registrations. When a domain is registered, the registrar collects contact information from the person or business registering it. This includes:

• Full name
  
• Email address
  
• Mailing address
  
• Phone number
  
• Registrar name (who the domain was registered through)
  
• Dates for when the domain was registered and when it's set to expire
  

WHOIS doesn't store this data in one single place. Instead, it pulls the info from various databases operated by different domain registries around the world. For example, .com domains are typically managed by one registry, while .org or country-specific domains like .uk or .ca are handled by others.

The idea behind WHOIS is to keep domain ownership transparent, making it easier to verify the legitimacy of websites and identify who to contact about a domain.

What Makes WHOIS Useful?

Running a WHOIS check gives you a quick snapshot of a domain's key details. Here are some of the more common reasons people use it:

Check if a Domain is Registered

Maybe you're considering a new name for your business or blog. A WHOIS check will tell you if the domain you want is already taken and when it might become available again.

Confirm Ownership

If you've already purchased a domain, it's a good idea to check that it's registered under your correct name or business. It also helps ensure that there are no surprises down the line, such as someone else managing the renewal.

Reach Out to the Owner

In some cases, you may want to contact the current owner to ask if they're willing to sell the domain. WHOIS used to make this easy, though privacy services now limit what you can see (more on that shortly).

Investigate Suspicious Domains

If a website seems suspicious or you've received spam from an unfamiliar domain, a WHOIS check might help you understand who's behind it—or at least who registered it.

Troubleshooting Website Issues

If you're coming across issues with your website, like ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED , WHOIS can help confirm the domain's status.

Where to Perform a WHOIS Check

You don't need any special software to run a WHOIS search—just access to a web browser. A few reliable WHOIS lookup tools include:

• Whois.com
  
• Who.is
  
• ICANN Lookup

These are all free and work with most common domain extensions, including .com, .net, .org, and more. Simply type in the domain name, and you'll get a text-based report showing the registration details that are currently public.

Keeping Your WHOIS Information Private

Because WHOIS is open to the public, anyone can look up your name, email address, and phone number unless you take steps to protect that information. This is where Domain Privacy Protection comes in.

To help you visualize what a WHOIS record looks like, here are two simplified examples: one with privacy protection turned off, and one with it enabled.

These examples show how much personal information can be visible—or hidden—depending on your settings.

Without Privacy:

Domain Name: example.com  
Registrar: Hostwinds, LLC  
Registrant Name: John Smith  
Email: john@examplemail.com  
Phone: +1.555.123.4567  
Address: 123 Example St, Seattle, WA

In this version, anyone who performs a WHOIS check can see the full name, email address, phone number, and physical location of the domain owner. This is helpful for transparency but comes with downsides—like opening the door to spam emails, robocalls, or even identity targeting.

With Privacy Enabled:

Domain Name: example.com  
Registrar: Hostwinds, LLC  
Registrant Name: Redacted for Privacy  
Email: contact@domainprivacy.com  
Phone: +1.000.000.0000  
Address: Redacted for Privacy

Once Domain Privacy Protection is enabled, your registrar replaces the personal contact details with generic or placeholder info. While you still retain full ownership of the domain, the public can no longer view your actual contact information.

What This Means for You:

• If you're trying to keep a low profile or cut down on unsolicited contact, enabling privacy protection is a smart choice.
  
• On the flip side, if you're hoping to sell your domain or be reachable through the WHOIS record, you may choose to leave some information visible—or work through a domain broker who can handle inquiries for you.
  

At Hostwinds, Domain Privacy Protection is available and you can either add it while registering a domain or enable it afterward from your client area. It usually takes about 24 hours for the changes to show in public WHOIS results.

What About GDPR and Other Privacy Laws?

If you've run WHOIS lookups recently and seen redacted or missing info, you're not alone. New privacy laws—especially GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe—have changed how much data is visible.

For domains registered by individuals or businesses in the EU, most WHOIS records now limit what they display, even without privacy protection. In these cases, you might only see:

• Registrar name
  
• Country or region
  
• DNS and status information
  
• Proxy contact info (if privacy is turned on)
  

Other countries and registries have followed suit with their own policies. That means WHOIS data will vary depending on where the domain is registered and the registrar's privacy settings.

WHOIS vs. RDAP: What's the Difference?

WHOIS has been the standard tool for looking up domain registration data since the early days of the internet. However, there's now a newer system gradually being adopted called RDAP, or Registration Data Access Protocol.

Both serve the same general purpose—helping people look up information about domain names—but there are a few key differences in how they work behind the scenes.

WHOIS: The Original Protocol

WHOIS operates as a simple text-based query system. You enter a domain, and it returns a block of unstructured data that includes details like:

• Registrar information
  
• Contact details
  
• Registration and expiration dates
  
• Domain status

While straightforward, WHOIS has its limitations:

• It doesn't handle international characters well

• It doesn't support fine-grained access control

• It isn't built for automation or modern web integrations.

RDAP: The Modern Replacement

RDAP is designed to address many of WHOIS's technical shortcomings. It offers several improvements:

• Structured data output – Instead of plain text, RDAP returns JSON-formatted results that are easier for apps, APIs, and web tools to read and use.
  
• Improved access control – Registrars can restrict what data different users can see, which helps align better with privacy laws like GDPR.
  
• Better international support – RDAP works more reliably with non-English characters and regional formats.
  
• Standardized error handling – If something goes wrong, RDAP provides clearer error messages and status codes.

From the User's Perspective:

If you're just running a simple domain lookup, the difference may not be noticeable. You'll still enter a domain and get back registration details. But under the hood, more registrars are beginning to rely on RDAP to power those results.

Which One Should You Use?

You don't have to choose—most WHOIS lookup tools will use RDAP automatically if it's supported by the registry or registrar for a particular domain. Tools like ICANN Lookup often display results using RDAP by default.

RDAP is still being rolled out across different registries, so for now, some domain types still rely on traditional WHOIS. Over time, however, you can expect to see RDAP become more widespread as the industry moves toward better standardization and compliance with global privacy laws.

Understanding how DNS works can give you a bit more context to these protocols and why they're transitioning.

Can You Update Your WHOIS Information?

Yes, and it's something you'll want to stay on top of. When you register a domain, your contact details are tied to it—and those details need to be kept current.

If your email address, phone number, or mailing address changes and you don't update your WHOIS info, you could miss important notifications from your registrar, including renewal reminders or verification requests.

How to Make Changes

Updating your WHOIS information is usually straightforward. Log in to your domain registrar's control panel—if you're a Hostwinds client, this would be your Client Area. Look for a section labeled something like Domain Management or Edit WHOIS Contact Information. From there, you can change:

• Registrant name
  
• Organization (if applicable)
  
• Email address
  
• Phone number
  
• Mailing address

Accuracy Matters

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) requires that all domain registrants keep their WHOIS details up to date. Inaccurate or outdated info can lead to problems. In some cases, ICANN or your registrar might suspend or even cancel a domain if they can't verify the contact information tied to it.

What Happens After You Update

Once you make an edit, most registrars will send a confirmation email to the new address you've entered. You'll usually have to click a link to verify the change. This step helps prevent unauthorized updates and protects against domain hijacking. If the confirmation isn't completed, the domain may be placed on hold, so be sure to follow through.

WHOIS Privacy Still Applies

If you've enabled Domain Privacy Protection, the public-facing WHOIS record will still show placeholder details instead of your actual contact info. But behind the scenes, your registrar still holds the real data—so any updates you make will apply there too.

Keep Login Details Safe

Since your WHOIS data is tied to your domain ownership, treat your registrar login like a set of keys to your online property. Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication if it's offered, and don't share your access with others.

Limits on WHOIS Lookups

WHOIS lookups are a handy tool, but they aren't unlimited. Most WHOIS services place temporary caps on how many queries a person can run in a short time frame. This is mainly to prevent automated systems from harvesting data on a large scale—something that can lead to spam, phishing, or even data resale.

Here's what to keep in mind:

Rate Limits

If you search for multiple domains too quickly—especially back-to-back—you may hit a rate limit. When that happens, the WHOIS tool might return an error message or ask you to wait before trying again. Some services also use CAPTCHAs to make sure it's a person making the request.

IP-Based Restrictions

Some WHOIS providers track usage by IP address. If several lookups come from the same location in a short span, they may temporarily block or throttle requests. This can be a problem if you're researching domains at work or through a shared network.

Lookup Caps Per Day

Depending on the provider, there may also be a daily cap—after a certain number of searches, you'll need to wait until the next day or switch to a different lookup tool.

Limits Vary by Service

Each WHOIS provider sets its own policies. Free public tools generally have tighter limits, while some paid or professional services (like domain monitoring platforms) offer expanded or unlimited access.

If you're looking over multiple domains, working on domain research, or simply need higher volume access, it's worth considering a paid tool or contacting the WHOIS provider directly for access options.

Wrapping Up

WHOIS is a quick way to check domain ownership, registration status, and expiration dates. It's helpful whether you're buying a domain, researching one, or just trying to keep your own information accurate. That said, because this data is public, it's smart to protect your privacy.

With Hostwinds, you can easily enable Domain Privacy Protection to shield your contact details from unwanted attention. It's a small step that can make a big difference in keeping your information secure.