What Is WHOIS Data?
WHOIS is a protocol that allows anyone to query the registration records of a domain. Domain registrars and registries are required to publish registration information, though many fields may be hidden when a registrant uses a WHOIS privacy service.
Core Fields
domain
The domain name queried, in lowercase with no trailing dot. Always present.
registrar
The name of the registrar through which the domain is registered (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains). Usually present; may be null for country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) that don't publish registrar information.
registrar_url
The registrar's website. May be null.
registrar_iana_id
The IANA registrar ID. Integer. May be null for ccTLD registries.
Date Fields
created_at
The date the domain was first registered. Format: YYYY-MM-DD. Present for most domains; may be null for older ccTLDs that don't publish creation dates.
updated_at
The date the registration record was last updated. Format: YYYY-MM-DD.
expires_at
The date the registration expires. Format: YYYY-MM-DD. null if the registry does not publish expiry dates.
Registrant Fields
These fields describe the domain's owner. They are frequently null for domains using WHOIS privacy protection.
registrant_name
The registered name of the owner (individual or organization).
registrant_email
The registrant's contact email. null for privacy-protected domains or domains under GDPR redaction.
registrant_organization
The registrant's organization name, if provided.
registrant_country
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (e.g. US, GB, DE).
Technical Fields
nameservers
An array of nameserver hostnames for the domain. Example: ["ns1.example.com", "ns2.example.com"]. Empty array if no nameservers are published.
status
An array of EPP status codes that describe the domain's current state. Codes are prefixed with either client (set by the registrar) or server (set by the registry).
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
clientDeleteProhibited |
Registrar has locked the domain against deletion |
clientTransferProhibited |
Registrar has locked the domain against outbound transfers |
clientUpdateProhibited |
Registrar has locked the domain against contact/nameserver changes |
serverDeleteProhibited |
Registry has locked the domain against deletion |
serverTransferProhibited |
Registry has locked the domain against outbound transfers |
serverUpdateProhibited |
Registry has locked the domain against contact/nameserver changes |
When Values Are Null
Fields are null when:
- The registry or registrar does not publish that data point
- The registrant has enabled WHOIS privacy / proxy registration
- GDPR data minimization rules apply (most
.euand ICANN-accredited registrars) - The domain is newly registered and the data hasn't propagated yet