Overview
WHOIS is a protocol and a query language used for querying databases that store the registered users or assignees of internet resources, such as domain names. It provides information about the domain owner, registrar, and registration dates.
Role in this knowledge base
Referred to synonymously with ‘ICANN Lookup’ as the public record of domain ownership details that privacy protection services aim to obscure.
Key facts
- WHOIS data includes registrant contact information which is typically made public by default.