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WHOIS lookup

WHOIS is the protocol registrars use to publish domain ownership and lifecycle information. anssl’s WHOIS tool surfaces registrar data, expiry dates, name servers, and status codes in seconds.

Section titled “Run a WHOIS search”

Open the WHOIS tool and:

  1. Enter the domain (for example example.com).
  2. Click Search.
  3. Review the returned record.

Interpreting the output

Section titled “Interpreting the output”

Domain basics

Section titled “Domain basics”
Domain Name: example.com
Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC
Registrar IANA ID: 146
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.godaddy.com
Registrar URL: https://www.godaddy.com

Key dates

Section titled “Key dates”
Created: 1995-08-14T04:00:00Z
Updated: 2024-08-13T09:22:45Z
Expires: 2025-08-13T04:00:00Z

Registrant details

Section titled “Registrant details”

GDPR and registrar privacy services often redact sensitive data, resulting in outputs such as:

Registrant Organization: Privacy Protected
Registrant Country: IS

Name servers

Section titled “Name servers”
Name Server:
- ns1.example.com
- ns2.example.com

Domain status codes

Section titled “Domain status codes”

Common codes include:

  • clientTransferProhibited — Locked against unauthorized transfers.
  • clientUpdateProhibited — Locked to prevent contact updates.
  • clientDeleteProhibited — Protected from accidental deletion.
  • clientRenewProhibited — Renewal temporarily blocked.
  • clientHold — DNS service suspended (often billing or policy related).
  • pendingDelete — Domain is scheduled for deletion.
  • redemptionPeriod — Grace period after expiry when the owner can still reclaim the domain.

When to use WHOIS

Section titled “When to use WHOIS”

1. Confirm domain ownership

Section titled “1. Confirm domain ownership”

Before purchasing or inheriting a project, check:

  • Registrar and registrant details.
  • Domain age (creation date).
  • Expiry and renewal history.
  • Whether the domain is active or restricted.

2. Track expiry milestones

Section titled “2. Track expiry milestones”

Periodically review critical domains:

  • Prevent accidental expiration.
  • Budget for renewals.
  • Avoid losing strategic names to opportunistic buyers.

3. Troubleshoot DNS issues

Section titled “3. Troubleshoot DNS issues”

If a site goes offline, WHOIS helps you verify:

  • Correct name server assignment.
  • Lock or hold statuses preventing updates.
  • Whether the domain has expired.

Pairing WHOIS with certificate management

Section titled “Pairing WHOIS with certificate management”

Pre-issuance checks

Section titled “Pre-issuance checks”

Before requesting an SSL certificate:

  • Confirm the domain is registered and valid.
  • Ensure the correct DNS provider is set so you can update records.
  • Verify no registrar locks will block ACME validation.

Privacy considerations

Section titled “Privacy considerations”

Due to GDPR and local privacy laws:

  • Many registrants opt for privacy services.
  • Some TLDs redact almost all contact data.
  • You may need to reach out to the registrar for additional details.

Best practices

Section titled “Best practices”

Audit key domains regularly

Section titled “Audit key domains regularly”

Review high-value domains each quarter:

  • Corporate primary domains
  • Brand-protection domains
  • Core application domains

Maintain an asset inventory

Section titled “Maintain an asset inventory”

Track:

  • Every domain you own
  • Registrar details
  • Creation and expiry dates
  • Business purpose and owner
  • Renewal status and notes

Configure reminders

Section titled “Configure reminders”
  • Set reminders 90, 30, and 7 days before expiry.
  • Use anssl’s monitoring feature to automate alerts and reporting.