WHOIS is a way of storing that information and making it available for the public to search. 

In this post, we’ll dive into the WHOIS public database to understand what kind of information is stored there, why it’s available, and how you can use it. We’ll also discuss options at your disposal for keeping your personal information private in the WHOIS database. 

What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a public database that houses the information collected when someone registers a domain name or updates their DNS settings.

ICANN, the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, regulates the WHOIS database. They’ve done so since 1982, back in the wild and wooly days of the early Internet. They describe the WHOIS service as a “ …free, publicly available directory containing the contact and technical information of registered domain name registrants.”

The registration data that’s stored in the WHOIS database is actually held in different locations, all managed by different registries and registrars. A registry owns and manages domain extensions, like Verisign who owns .com and .net, but they don’t sell them. Instead, their domains are sold and registered through different registrars, like Domain.com. 

Why was the WHOIS database created?

Initially, the database was created as a directory. It listed “the contact information … of anyone transmitting data across the ARPANET,” a building block of the Internet as we know it today. 

Think about it: The Internet we’re familiar with today is absolutely massive. Odds are, you can find just about anything on the Internet. But how often have you stopped to think about where the information is coming from and who’s behind it? With the rise and prominence of fake news, it’s more important now than ever before to know the source of your information. 

WHOIS helps to democratize the Internet. Anyone, from businesses and corporations to law enforcement and individual users, can access and use the WHOIS database to find out who is behind a domain name and any associated website. 

Beyond that, many people find the WHOIS database a great tool for business opportunities. If you’re looking to take your business online or start a website you’re going to need a domain name. However, as you get started, you might find that the domain name you want is already registered by someone else. You can use the WHOIS database to get their contact information and reach out to try and broker and deal for the domain name you want. 

What kind of information is stored in the WHOIS database?

When a domain name is registered the registrant has to supply their information and it needs to be accurate. If you supply false information when registering your domain name you run the risk of losing your domain. ICANN writes, “If the domain name registrant knowingly provides inaccurate information, fails to update information within seven days of any change, or does not respond within 15 days to an inquiry about accuracy, the domain name may be suspended or cancelled.”

The information collected during the domain registration process includes your:

• Name. 
• Address. 
• Phone Number. 
• Email Address. 

That’s pretty sensitive information to have at anyone’s fingertips, especially the Internet-at-large. If you’d rather not have all of your personal information easily searchable by anyone with an internet connection, you do have options. 

Most every domain name registrar offers some form of domain privacy, which is just as it sounds. Domain privacy allows you to supplant the registrar’s information for your own, so instead of having your contact information displayed in WHOIS Lookup results, your registrar’s will show. If someone needs to contact you about your domain name your registrar acts as the “middle man” — they’ll direct any inquiries to you for you to view and act upon. 

At Domain.com, we’ve taken domain privacy to the next level. We offer Domain Privacy + Protection, a tool that keeps your information out of the WHOIS database and provides malware scans and blacklist prevention, the latter powered by SiteLock. 

In addition to your information (or your registrar’s if you’re using domain privacy), WHOIS Lookup results display information about your registrar, administrative contacts, and technical contacts. This information is incredibly useful to have on hand if you run into any technical issues with your domain or site. 

WHOIS Lookup limitations

While the WHOIS database stores a massive amount of information about registered domain names, it doesn’t display all of the registration information for every domain name. Certain TLDs, like .com and .net, will always have their registration information in the WHOIS database. Other TLDs, like .me or .gov, display less information. And then there are some domain extensions, like .asia or .coop, that don’t allow for domain privacy, so the registrant information will always be searchable and viewable. 

ICANN is always working to improve the WHOIS system and has acknowledged that “The evolution of the Internet ecosystem has created challenges for WHOIS in every area.” 

Rest assured that as improvements are made, Domain.com will continue to strive in providing the most accurate information while ensuring you have the tools you need to maintain your domain privacy and protection. 

Ready to perform a WHOIS Lookup?

Get started researching domain names today at Domain.com

If you have any questions about understanding your WHOIS Lookup results, or any other questions about WHOIS in general, let us know in the comments below. Happy searching!

Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.

Why search for a domain owner?

The most obvious reason to locate a domain owner is to try to purchase the domain, but that isn’t the only one. If a site claims to be a legitimate one owned by a major corporation but appears suspicious, checking its ownership is a way to verify its authenticity. Likewise, if a website has no contact information on its homepage or a contact page, a visitor could track down its owners in order to contact them with questions about the site’s products or services—or to report a technical problem.

Another reason to check domain ownership information is to safeguard the security of your own site against incorrect or incomplete contact information. Looking up the domain ownership records on an existing site allows owners to ensure that their information is correct and that nothing has been changed without permission. Searches for domain ownership can be accomplished through public WHOIS databases, website searches, and even email, depending on the reasons for conducting the search.

Who legally owns a domain?

Searching for a domain’s owner can turn up multiple names provided as contacts for functions such as technical support, administration, and billing. But, the legal owner of a website is the registrant—the person or entity in whose name the domain has been registered with a dedicated domain registrar or hosting provider. As long as registration fees are kept up to date, that owner retains full rights to the domain and has sole control over selling it at any time, whether or not the domain is nearing expiration.

Searching the website

Many websites ranging from personal blogs to larger business and professional sites include information about the domain’s ownership, and offer obvious ways to contact a domain’s owner either right on the site or through a related email address.

Using WHOIS lookups

The most direct way to find out a domain’s ownership is through a search of WHOIS databases, which provide detailed information on the current ownership of websites of all kinds. WHOIS databases are available through entities such as WHOIS.net and ICANN (the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), an organization dedicated to coordinating and storing information related to each unique website in the world.

Different WHOIS databases offer varying amounts of information about a particular site, but any version a searcher uses provides essential data such as the name and contact information of the owner/registrant, and the domain’s term and expiration date. Some WHOIS lookups also include more detailed information about the domain itself, such as statistics related to site performance and traffic. Others include not only a domain’s current information, but also a history of past ownership, domain renewals, and other information. Searchers may also be able to see a list of other sites owned by the registrant, each of which can have its own contact information and a potential path back to the owner.

WHOIS lookups have limitations, though. Privacy seeking domain owners can thwart searchers by using proxy registrants—companies or entities that appear as registrants, so that the actual owner remains anonymous. Contact information such as email addresses can also be out of date or no longer in use. Users can also add privacy features that cloak personal data to outside searchers. Those obstacles can sometimes be overcome by searching the domain’s ownership history to find information that predates privacy settings, or by searching an owner’s other listed sites for more current contact information.

Search engines and social media

If current ownership information is not available through a WHOIS database or not directly shown on a site, it may be possible to track it down through other kinds of information, such as social media profiles or links to related sites. For example, a searcher might find the site owner through a Twitter account or LinkedIn profile, even if that information is not on the domain or in a WHOIS database. Even a Google search might turn up clues to a domain owner’s identity and contact information.

Domain brokerages

Buying and selling domains is an industry all in itself, and a number of services exist to make those transactions possible. If all efforts to find a domain owner through WHOIS or other strategies are fruitless, a domain brokerage or agent may be able to help. These entities offer services that range from locating an elusive domain owner to managing all aspects of a domain name sale. Sales of desirable domain names can be expensive, and brokerages also have their fees, but companies searching for just the right name to promote their brand may find these services well worth the investment.

How to find the owner of your ideal domain

The right domain name enhances your visibility and promotes your brand, but that perfect name may belong to someone else—and locating that person can be the first step toward securing the domain for your own use. Checking ownership of a domain can help keep your own domain secure and up to date, as well. With the help of online search tools such as WHOIS and a little detective work, it’s possible to find any domain’s legal owner—or to protect your own domain’s essential information.

Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.

You came up with a creative business name, have your new logo design, and even snatched the Facebook page and Twitter handle, but after a search for the right domain, it’s taken.

If someone else owns the domain, what can you do?

This happens, as getting the perfect domain, although such a seemingly small task, can be one of the greatest challenges you’ll have in building your digital presence.

Find out what it means if your domain is taken, and the next steps you can take to secure one for your brand.

Domain.com has over 300 domain extensions to choose from to help set your website apart from the rest. It all starts with a great domain.

Why is my domain taken?

Some businesses or entrepreneurs make a living on domaining. They purchase a list of domain names to make money by following current trends, interests, or habits. For instance, if someone purchased www.KanyeforPresident.com, they’d be domaining on the chance that Kanye West will actually run for President of the United States in 2020.

A domainer takes a small risk by investing in the domain and paying for its annual fee, but there’s no promise he or she will be able to profit from that domain. In this case, someone domaining is betting on the chance that Kanye West, a big star with millions of dollars, would pay him or her thousands to secure that domain name.

What can I do if my domain is taken?

See if the taken domain is for sale

Sometimes, the domain name may have been purchased by a legitimate business owner, but they never ended up doing anything with it. If that’s the case, you can use the Domain.com WHOIS lookup to explore if you can contact the owner of the domain and purchase it at a fair price. You may have to pay a premium, but it’s worth a try to grab the perfect domain.

Try an abbreviated version of the domain

You can still get the point across and convey your brand by using an abbreviation of your business name in the domain. For instance, instead of www.AcmeCompany.com, you may opt for www.AcmeCo.com.

The easiest way to try out abbreviations is to open up your word processor and create a list of potential abbreviations. Then, copy and paste that list into Domain.com’s Bulk Registration tool to see what is available.

Use a new top-level domain

Without compromising the integrity of your domain name, you can simply change the domain ending (aka the top-level domain). Of course, the most used top-level domain is .com, but you have a variety of top-level domains at your fingertips, including .net, .biz, .co, .business and more. Using a top-level domain that applies to your business will help to further convey your brand and the products or services you offer.

Use a tagline or slogan instead

Instead of www.yourbusiness.com, consider using your tagline or slogan instead, assuming it’s short. A realtor client we’ve worked with for quite a while opted to purchase www.DependonDakota.com because her slogan played into her brand, and it was easy to remember for everyone who had seen her marketing campaigns. Another example, Nike uses www.JustDoIt.com and points traffic using a redirect to www.Nike.com.

Consult a web design expert

Believe it or not, this type of situation comes up every single day. If you’re currently working with a web design expert, then lean on them to help you navigate this new domain terrain. Chances are your web designer has run into this situation before and can come up with some creative ideas to find you a domain name that fits your brand.

Putting it all together

You may find yourself at a digital chasm with your domain taken, but it’s not the end of the world. Whether a professional domainer, a fellow business owner, or a domain squatter currently owns your ideal domain name, the steps above can help you attach a relevant and professional domain name to your website. Stop helplessly glaring at that screen, and start getting your brand or business a piece of the internet.

Domain.com has over 300 domain extensions to choose from to help set your website apart from the rest. It all starts with a great domain.