WHOIS / Domain Lookup
Look up a domain's registrar, dates and status via RDAP.
WHOIS / Domain Lookup checks who a domain was registered through, when it was created, and when it expires, in real time. It summarizes the registrar, the registration, expiration and last-changed dates, the domain status codes, and the delegated nameservers at a glance.
Instead of the legacy WHOIS protocol, this tool uses the standardized RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol). RDAP responds in structured JSON, so parsing is reliable and the data comes straight from the official registry and registrar sources. Just enter a domain — no protocol or path needed.
What it shows
- Registrar: the company that sells and manages the domain (e.g. GoDaddy, Cloudflare)
- Registration date: when the domain was first created
- Expiration date: when the registration lapses unless renewed
- Last changed: when the registration record was last updated
- Status codes: EPP states such as clientTransferProhibited or clientHold
- Nameservers: the servers responsible for the domain's DNS (see live delegation with NS Check)
Reading status codes
EPP status codes describe the locks and restrictions on a domain. For example, clientTransferProhibited is a protective lock that blocks unauthorized transfers and is a normal security setting. By contrast, clientHold or serverHold can mean the domain is temporarily deactivated and deserves a closer look. Decode each code's meaning and severity in detail with the EPP Domain Status Code Decoder.
WHOIS versus RDAP
Classic WHOIS is free-form text that varies by registrar and lost much of its content after privacy masking. RDAP is a consistent JSON standard. Even when registrant personal data is redacted under rules like GDPR, the core metadata — registrar, dates and status — remains reliably available.
Quick reference: common EPP status codes
Status codes split into client* (set by the registrar) and server* (set by the registry). The server-side ones are stronger because you cannot clear them yourself in the registrar panel.
| Status code | Meaning | Risk |
|---|---|---|
ok (active) | No locks at all. Ironically the most exposed to transfers and changes | Normal (weak security) |
clientTransferProhibited | Registrar lock blocking unauthorized transfers. The default for almost every active domain | Normal (recommended) |
clientHold / serverHold | Domain pulled from DNS, so the site won't resolve (non-payment, dispute, abuse report) | Danger |
pendingDelete | In the deletion pipeline; about to drop back into the available pool | Danger |
redemptionPeriod | Grace window after expiry. Recoverable, but usually with an expensive redemption fee | Caution |
autoRenewPeriod | Auto-renewed past the expiry date; the ~45-day refundable window is running | Normal |
Reading a real lookup
Say a lookup returns: created 2015-08-13, expires 2026-08-13, last changed 2026-06-01, status clientTransferProhibited, nameservers ns1.example-dns.com and ns2.example-dns.com. That reads as a healthy domain: live for 11 years, a recent renewal just reflected (June 1), and a normal transfer lock in place. If instead the same domain showed clientHold together with redemptionPeriod, it has fallen past expiry into the grace window and been removed from DNS — go check recovery and billing in the registrar account immediately. The expiration value comes from the expiration entry in RDAP's events array, reported by the registry in UTC.
Common pitfall
- The site still loads after the expiry date, so people assume all is well — but it may actually be in
autoRenewPeriodorredemptionPeriod, and once that window closes the domain drops and someone else can grab it. - Don't read the WHOIS expiration as your billing date. The shown value is registry-side and can differ from your registrar account's billing cycle.
- An empty registrant field doesn't mean the domain is inactive or troubled — that's just GDPR masking. The status codes are the real signal.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the registrant (owner) name missing?
Does it work for every TLD?
Can the expiration date be inaccurate?
Is the domain I enter stored?
Related guides
- Domain Expiry and Transfers: Process, Timelines and GotchasWhat happens when a domain expires (grace and redemption), how registrar transfers work, and staying online during one.