What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a query and response protocol that is widely used for querying databases that store the registered users or assignees of an Internet resource, such as a domain name, an IP address block, or an autonomous system.

When you perform a WHOIS lookup, you can find out information such as:

Registrar: The company through which the domain was registered.
Registration Dates: When the domain was first created and when it is set to expire.
Name Servers: The servers that handle DNS for the domain.
Status: Whether the domain is active, locked, or pending deletion.
Contact Information: Technical, administrative, and billing contact details (though often redacted for privacy/GDPR).

Why use WHOIS Lookup?

Developers and system administrators use WHOIS lookups for several reasons:

Network Troubleshooting: Identifying ownership of an IP range that is causing issues.
Domain Availability: Checking if a domain is registered and when it might become available.
Security Audits: Verifying the authenticity of a domain or identifying the hosting provider of a suspicious site.
Copyright/Trademark Protection: Finding contact information for domains that may be infringing on intellectual property.