WHOIS Lookup
Read a domain's registry record over RDAP.
Use the WHOIS Lookup tool
What this whois lookup does
WHOIS Lookup reads the registration record a domain registry publishes over RDAP, the structured successor to port-43 WHOIS. It shows the registrar and its IANA ID, the registry status codes, registration and expiration events, delegated nameservers and whether DNSSEC is signed.
Queries go through the KitJade Worker because registries do not share one browser-readable CORS policy. The Worker asks only the RDAP service that IANA lists for the domain's TLD, and caches the answer for ten minutes. Most registries redact registrant names, addresses and phone numbers under privacy rules, so a missing owner field is normal rather than a fault.
Why use it
- Confirm which registrar holds a domain before contacting support.
- See the nameservers the registry delegates to, separate from cached DNS answers.
- Check registry locks and DNSSEC state during a transfer or migration.
- Cite authoritative registration and expiry dates in a report.
How to use it
- 1Enter a domain name such as example.com. A pasted URL is reduced to its hostname.
- 2Run the lookup and wait for the registry to answer.
- 3Read the registrar, status and key-date panels.
- 4Compare the delegated nameservers with the records you configure at your DNS host.
Worked examples
Well-known domain
Input
example.com
Output
The registrar, IANA ID, three registry status codes, registration and expiry events, two nameservers and a signed-DNSSEC flag.
Registry without an expiration event
Input
A country-code domain whose registry does not publish an expiry event
Output
The record is shown with the dates it does publish, and the expiry panel states that none was provided.
Common mistakes
- Expecting the registrant's name and address; privacy policies usually redact them.
- Looking up a subdomain and expecting its own record; registries publish the registrable domain.
- Treating a missing record as proof that a domain is available to register.
- Confusing a registrar transfer lock with the website being offline.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as WHOIS?
It returns the same kind of registry data through RDAP, which is structured JSON rather than the old port-43 text format. Some registries publish different fields in each.
Why is the owner redacted?
Registries and registrars redact personal data for privacy and data-protection rules. The tool reports what the registry publishes and does not try to bypass redaction.
Does a “not found” answer mean the domain is available?
No. A registry can withhold RDAP data, and reservations and pending deletions are not the same as availability. Confirm at an accredited registrar.
Why do some TLDs show no RDAP service?
The tool follows the IANA RDAP directory. If a TLD is absent there, the tool says so instead of guessing an endpoint. Coverage changes as registries migrate.
Is my lookup private?
No account or cookie is used. The Worker sees the domain and your connection details as any web request does, applies a per-IP rate limit and keeps an in-memory cache of the registry answer.