What a Whois lookup shows
Every registry, the organisation that manages a domain ending, keeps a directory of all registered domains. The Whois protocol lets you query whether a domain is taken, which registrar it is with, when it was last changed and which name servers are responsible for it. For many endings, the expiry date is listed too.
Why the owner is often not shown
Since the GDPR, most registries no longer publish names, addresses or email addresses of private individuals. For .de domains, DENIC only returns technical data. For .at domains, nic.at only shows owner data if the owner explicitly wants it. Many .com registrars also hide owner details behind a privacy service. For companies, at least the organisation is often visible. We additionally hide email addresses, phone numbers and postal addresses in the raw output.
Whois and RDAP
RDAP is the modern successor to Whois with a standard format. However, many country registries such as DENIC or nic.at only offer Whois. For the exact expiry date of a .com, .net or .org domain, our domain expiry check, which uses RDAP, is the best choice.
The domain is taken, but I want it
If the domain is not in use, you can sometimes contact the owner through their registrar. Many registrars offer a contact form for this without revealing the owner’s details. For trademark or name rights there are also dispute resolution procedures. More in our guide Domain expired: what now?
Frequently asked questions: Whois Lookup
How do I find out who owns a domain?
Enter the domain into the Whois lookup. Whether the owner is shown is up to the registry: for companies the organisation is often visible, while personal data of private individuals is mostly no longer published since the GDPR.
Does the Whois lookup work for country domains such as .de or .at?
Yes. We query the Whois server of the responsible registry directly, for example DENIC for .de and nic.at for .at. These registries publish less data than the .com registry, for example no expiry date.
What is the difference between Whois and RDAP?
Both return data from the registry’s database. RDAP is the modern successor with a standard format, but not every country registry offers it. That is why our Whois lookup also works where RDAP is missing.
How do I find out whether a domain is still available?
If the Whois lookup reports “not registered”, the domain is very likely available. A domain provider’s availability check gives you certainty before you order.