====== WHOIS ======

**WHOIS** is a query service used to obtain registration information about Internet resources such as:

  * Domain names
  * IP address blocks
  * Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs)

WHOIS helps identify who is responsible for a domain or network resource and provides administrative information about its registration.

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===== What Can WHOIS Show? =====

A WHOIS lookup may include information such as:

  * Domain name
  * Registrar
  * Registration date
  * Expiration date
  * Last update date
  * Domain status
  * Name servers
  * Registrant information (when public)

The exact information depends on the registry and privacy settings.

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===== Example =====

A WHOIS lookup for:

<code>
example.com
</code>

might return:

<code>
Registrar:
Example Registrar Inc.

Created:
1995-08-14

Expires:
2027-08-13

Nameservers:
ns1.example.com
ns2.example.com
</code>

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===== Domain Registrar =====

A **registrar** is the company through which a domain name is registered.

Examples include:

  * GoDaddy
  * Namecheap
  * Tucows
  * Gandi

The registrar is responsible for managing the domain registration.

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===== Name Servers =====

WHOIS usually lists the authoritative name servers.

Example:

<code>
ns1.example.com
ns2.example.com
</code>

These servers host the domain's DNS records.

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===== Registration Dates =====

WHOIS commonly reports three important dates.

===== Creation Date =====

When the domain was first registered.

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===== Expiration Date =====

When the current registration period ends.

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===== Updated Date =====

The last time registration information was modified.

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===== Domain Status =====

WHOIS may report one or more status values.

Examples:

  * clientTransferProhibited
  * clientDeleteProhibited
  * clientUpdateProhibited

These statuses help protect domains from unauthorized changes.

-----

===== Privacy Protection =====

Many domain owners enable **WHOIS Privacy**.

Instead of showing personal information, WHOIS displays the contact details of a privacy service.

Example:

<code>
Registrant:

REDACTED FOR PRIVACY
</code>

This helps reduce spam and protect personal information.

-----

===== WHOIS for IP Addresses =====

WHOIS can also be used for IP addresses.

Example:

<code>
8.8.8.8
</code>

may return:

  * Organization
  * Regional Internet Registry (RIR)
  * Country
  * Network range
  * ASN

This information identifies the organization responsible for the IP address.

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===== Regional Internet Registries =====

IP address registrations are managed by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs).

These include:

  * ARIN (North America)
  * RIPE NCC (Europe, Middle East, and parts of Central Asia)
  * APNIC (Asia-Pacific)
  * AFRINIC (Africa)
  * LACNIC (Latin America and Caribbean)

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===== WHOIS vs DNS =====

WHOIS and DNS provide different types of information.

^ WHOIS ^ DNS ^
| Registration information | Technical records |
| Registrar | A, AAAA, MX, TXT, etc. |
| Creation date | IP addresses |
| Expiration date | Mail servers |
| Domain status | Name servers |

WHOIS tells you **who registered the domain**, while DNS tells you **how the domain works**.

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===== WHOIS and Telenegar =====

The **Telenegar WHOIS Lookup** service can display information such as:

  * Registrar
  * Registration dates
  * Domain status
  * Name servers
  * WHOIS server
  * Registrant information (when available)

This information is useful for:

  * Domain investigations
  * Security analysis
  * Troubleshooting
  * Domain management

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===== Common Misconceptions =====

  * **WHOIS shows the current website owner.**
    * Not always. Many domains use privacy protection or organizational registrations.

  * **WHOIS and DNS contain the same information.**
    * False. They serve different purposes.

  * **Every domain reveals personal information.**
    * False. Many registrations are protected by privacy services or registry policies.

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===== Related Topics =====

  * [[networking:dns:dns|DNS Explained]]
  * [[networking:dns:authoritative-server|Authoritative DNS Server]]
  * [[networking:dns:reverse-dns|Reverse DNS]]
  * [[tools:dnscheck|DNS Check]]
  * [[tools:whois|WHOIS Lookup]]

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{{tag>whois domains registrar dns diagnostics}}