WHOIS domain and IP lookup
Look up a domain's WHOIS information, including its registration and expiry dates, nameservers and registrar. Works with .com, .jp, internationalized domain names and IPv4 addresses.
A domain name or URL shows its registration details field by field; an IPv4 address shows the full WHOIS response.
Checking domain availability
WHOIS shows information about domain names that are already registered. To find out whether a domain name you want is available, use domain search.
Check availability with domain searchWhat is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a system that makes registration information for domain names and IP addresses publicly searchable. Domain name information is provided by registries (Verisign for .com, JPRS for .jp) and registrars, and IP address information by registries such as APNIC and JPNIC.
What WHOIS can tell you
WHOIS information may include a registration date, expiry date, nameservers, registrar and domain status. The available fields depend on the domain type and the WHOIS server, and an empty field alone does not mean a domain is unregistered.
Common uses of WHOIS
WHOIS is used to find contacts for resolving technical network issues between the parties involved, to check for similar domain names before registering one, and to help resolve trademark and other disputes. It is also useful for checking your own domain's expiry date and nameserver settings.
When to use RDAP
RDAP also provides public registration information. If WHOIS does not return enough information, you can check a supported domain with RDAP. Support varies by domain type, including .jp.
Frequently asked questions
- What is WHOIS used for?
- It is mainly used to find contacts for resolving technical network issues between the parties involved, to check for similar domain names before registering one, and to help resolve trademark and other disputes. It is also useful for checking your own domain's expiry date and nameservers.
- Can WHOIS tell me who owns a domain?
- If the registrant's name or organization is public, it may appear in the full WHOIS response. Domains that use a WHOIS privacy or proxy service show the details of the registrar or another party instead, and registrant details may also be redacted to protect personal information.
- When is WHOIS information provided?
- The registrant provides their details when registering a domain name. For gTLDs such as .com, this is required under registrars' agreements with ICANN, and for .jp under JPRS rules. If the details change, update them with the registrar that manages the domain.
- Can I look up .com and .jp domains?
- Yes. You can look up gTLDs such as .com, .net and .org, and country-code TLDs such as .jp. Some WHOIS servers may not respond, in which case no information can be shown.
- Can I register a domain shown as possibly unregistered?
- Not necessarily. Reserved names and registration requirements can prevent registration. Use domain search to check availability at that time.
- Can I register a domain after its expiry date?
- Renewal or recovery periods may continue after expiry. The expiry date alone does not establish when a domain will be deleted or become available to someone else.
- Can I look up Japanese domain names?
- Yes. The lookup uses the ASCII Punycode form, and the result shows both the Japanese and ASCII forms.
- Can I look up an IP address?
- You can view the full WHOIS response for supported IPv4 addresses. IPv6 is not currently supported. IP address allocation information is separate from domain registration information.
