Look up

Looking up a domain: WHOIS, RDAP and privacy

Last reviewed 26 October 2026

The short version

• A lookup shows the public record for a domain.
• WHOIS is the older way to look it up. RDAP is the newer one.
• The record includes the dates and status words you need.
• A privacy service can hide your contact details. It doesn't hide the dates.

What a lookup is

Every registered domain has a public record. A lookup lets anyone read it. For years the tool for that was WHOIS, a way to ask databases who a name is registered to.^[1]

RDAP is the newer tool. It was made to replace WHOIS.^[2] The IETF, the group that writes internet standards, developed it.^[2] The standard itself calls RDAP a successor to the "very old" WHOIS protocol.^[3]

RDAP gives WHOIS-like data in a standard format.^[2] And WHOIS is on its way out. Since 28 January 2025, most generic-name registries and registrars no longer have to run it.^[2] Three endings are still covered: .com, .name and .post.^[2]

You don't need to learn either protocol. You use a web page that does the lookup for you.

Try a lookup

ICANN runs a free lookup page. Type a name in the box, press Lookup, and it shows the record. The page says it uses RDAP, the newer tool.

What should you look for?

• The dates. Look for the expiry date. It tells you when to renew.
• The status words. They say whether the name is locked, or in trouble. ICANN's guide says you can see a domain's status codes in a lookup.^[4] The locks page explains the common ones.
• The registrar. That's who to call.

A lookup is also a good check on your own name. If the registrant or the email is wrong, now you know. ICANN expects registrants to keep the details accurate and to update them promptly.^[5]

What a privacy service does

Not everyone wants their name, email and phone number on a public record. So some registrars offer private registration, also called domain privacy. The record then shows the registrar's contact details instead of yours.^[1]

That's a fair choice for a person. Just know the limits.

• It hides your contact details. The dates and status words are still visible.
• If your registrar closes, a privacy-protected owner may have difficulty regaining control of the name.^[1]

So keep your own records. Keep the registrar's emails and your invoices somewhere safe, and note which registrar you use.

What next

A lookup can show a status word that sounds scary. The next page explains the locks that protect a domain, and the words that go with them.