WHOIS Lookup
WEBLook up a domain's registrar, registration and expiry dates, status and name servers via RDAP — free in your browser.
Enter a domain and tap Look up to see its WHOIS record.
What is the WHOIS Lookup tool?
WHOIS lookup shows what is publicly on record for any domain name: the registrar it is registered through, the date it was first registered, when it expires, its current status flags and the name servers it points to. Enter a domain and the answer comes back in seconds over RDAP — the structured protocol ICANN introduced to replace the ageing WHOIS system — so you read clean, labelled fields instead of a wall of raw text. It is free, with no sign-up and no upsell trying to sell you the domain: just the record.
A domain whois answers everyday questions. Wondering who owns a domain before making an offer? The registrar and creation date tell you where to start, even when the owner's personal details are hidden behind privacy protection. Suspicious of a website? A lookup that shows the domain was registered three weeks ago is a classic warning sign. Running your own sites? A quick domain expiry check confirms the renewal date before a lapse takes your website and email down. And when a record looks odd, Carbide's DNS lookup shows where the name is actually pointing right now.
One honest note: a WHOIS lookup is, by nature, a query to the domain registries. The domain name you type is sent to the official RDAP servers to fetch the public record — nothing more — and Carbide does not log or store your lookups. The page works in English and Arabic and is just as usable on your phone as on a desktop.
How to use the WHOIS Lookup
- Enter the domain you want to look up — just the name, like example.com.
- Run the lookup and wait a moment while the registry's RDAP record is fetched.
- Read the registrar, registration date and expiry date at the top of the results.
- Check the status flags — locks like clientTransferProhibited show the domain is protected.
- Review the name servers to see where the domain's DNS is managed, then pair with DNS lookup to see the live records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out who owns a domain?
Run a WHOIS lookup on it. The record shows the registrar, registration and expiry dates, status and name servers. The owner's personal name and email are usually redacted for privacy, but the registrar listed in the record is the official channel for reaching the owner — most registrars forward messages or handle abuse reports.
Why is the owner's name and contact information hidden?
Because of WHOIS privacy. Most registrars enable domain privacy protection by default, replacing the owner's details with proxy contacts, and privacy laws like GDPR pushed registries to redact personal data across the board. Seeing 'REDACTED FOR PRIVACY' is completely normal and says nothing suspicious about the domain.
What is RDAP, and how is it different from WHOIS?
RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is ICANN's modern replacement for the old WHOIS protocol. It serves the same public registration data, but as structured fields over HTTPS straight from the registry, instead of free-form text that every registrar formats differently. This tool queries RDAP, which is why results are current and consistently laid out.
How can I check if a domain is available to register?
Look it up: if no registration record exists, the domain is very likely unregistered and available. Confirm at any registrar before celebrating — some registries hold, reserve or premium-price certain names. Carbide is not a registrar and does not sell domains, so the answer here carries no sales agenda.
What does a status like clientTransferProhibited mean?
It is a registrar lock: the domain cannot be transferred to another registrar unless the owner unlocks it first. It is a standard security measure against domain hijacking, not a problem. Statuses like pendingDelete or redemptionPeriod, on the other hand, mean the domain is expiring and may become available.
Is this WHOIS lookup free? Are there limits?
Yes — free, no account, no daily quota and no paid tier. It is part of Carbide's free networking toolkit, alongside DNS lookup, IP info and a speed test, so the follow-up checks are free too.
What does a lookup send, and is it private?
Only the domain name you type, sent to the official registry RDAP servers to fetch the public record — that request is what a WHOIS lookup is. Carbide does not log, store or share your lookups, and nothing about you is attached beyond what any web request carries.
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