Whois may refer to any of the following:

  1. WHOIS is an Internet service and utility that shows additional information about a domain, the registrar of the domain, and the IP address. When trying to come up with a domain name for a new website, performing a WHOIS lets you determine if that name is registered or available.

How is WHOIS pronounced?

The WHOIS command and service is pronounced as two separate words “who is” and is not an acronym, even though it is typed in all uppercase.

  • How is WHOIS pronounced?
  • What information is contained in a WHOIS?
  • How to perform a domain WHOIS search.
  • Example of WHOIS output.
  • Related information.

What information is contained in a WHOIS?

When a domain is registered though a domain name registrar, ICANN requires that the registration information be made publicly available. The WHOIS record must include the registrars name, the creation date, updated date, and expiration date. Other information can include the name servers and the registrant, admin, and technical contact information.

When a WHOIS search is performed, the service queries several domain registrars since there is no central database to display the final results. A WHOIS can be done through the command line or an online service. Below is a brief overview of how to use each of the different WHOIS options.

The personal contact information can be made private as a free or paid service, depending on the registrar.

All users through online service

Several online WHOIS services allow anyone to look up any online domain on any device with Internet access. Below are a few examples of these online services. Some of these services may show additional information if the domain is being hosted through the service providing the WHOIS.

If a domain is private, you cannot see any personal contact information on any WHOIS.

  • GoDaddy WHOIS.
  • The Network Solutions WHOIS lookup website.

Microsoft Windows users

With Microsoft Windows and Windows Sysinternals installed, you can run the whois command from the Windows command line (MS-DOS).

Linux and macOS users

The macOS, Linux, and Unix Terminal come with a pre-installed whois command. See the whois command page for further information on using the command.

Example of WHOIS output

The following is an example of what you may see when doing a WHOIS in the Microsoft Windows command line using the whois Sysinternals command. In our example, we are doing a WHOIS on the “microsoft.com” domain.

Whois v1.12 - Domain information lookup utility Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com Copyright (C) 2005-2014 Mark Russinovich Connecting to COM.whois-servers.net… Domain ID: 2724960_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.markmonitor.com Registrar URL: http://www.markmonitor.com Updated Date: 2014-10-09T16:28:25Z Creation Date: 1991-05-02T04:00:00Z Registry Expiry Date: 2021-05-03T04:00:00Z Registrar: MarkMonitor Inc. Registrar IANA ID: 292 Registrar Abuse Contact Email: [email protected] Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.2083895740 Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientDeleteProhibited Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientUpdateProhibited Domain Status: serverDeleteProhibited https://icann.org/epp#serverDeleteProhibited Domain Status: serverTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#serverTransferProhibited Domain Status: serverUpdateProhibited https://icann.org/epp#serverUpdateProhibited Name Server: NS1.MSFT.NET Name Server: NS2.MSFT.NET Name Server: NS3.MSFT.NET Name Server: NS4.MSFT.NET DNSSEC: unsigned URL of the ICANN Whois Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://www.icann.org/wicf/

Last update of whois database: 2020-05-05T17:57:00Z «< For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the registrar’s sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration date of the domain name registrant’s agreement with the sponsoring registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar’s Whois database to view the registrar’s reported date of expiration for this registration. TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry Services’ (“VeriSign”) Whois database is provided by VeriSign for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and Registrars.

  1. A command used on some chat networks, such as IRC. Whois enables a user to find out additional information about other users, such as their hostname, IP address, channels, and how long they’ve been online. For example, if the username was mrhope, you could type the command below to display information about that person.
  • Network and network card help and support.

/whois mrhope

Internet terms, Network terms