What WHOIS tells you (and what it no longer shows)
A WHOIS answers three questions: is the domain taken, since when and who manages it. The creation date is the most telling clue: a "long-established" shop whose domain is three weeks old should ring a bell, it is the first check to run to find out if a website is legit.
The owner is rarely visible. For an individual, the registry hides the name, address and email; they can still be reached through a form at the registrar. For a company, the organisation name and country are sometimes published. If you need the registrant for a dispute (counterfeiting, brand abuse), ask the registrar with a legitimate reason.
Reading domain statuses
- clientTransferProhibited: transfer locked by the registrar, the normal protection of an active domain.
- serverHold / clientHold: the domain no longer works (unpaid, dispute or suspension).
- redemptionPeriod: the domain has expired and only the former owner can still recover it before it goes back on the market.
- pendingDelete: deletion is imminent, the name becomes free within days. Before you grab it, read our guide to buying an expired domain name.
WHOIS vs RDAP: what is the difference?
WHOIS is an old text protocol whose format differs from one registry to the next. RDAP replaced it in 2025 for generic extensions (.com, .net, .shop…): it returns structured data and respects the redaction of personal data. We query the RDAP server of the extension's registry directly, as listed by IANA. Some country extensions (.eu, .be, .ch…) have no public RDAP yet: the report then says what could not be read.
Going further than WHOIS
WHOIS tells you who manages a name today, not what it used to be. To know whether a domain was used before, carries toxic links or was blacklisted, run a full domain health check or read the guide to tracing the history of a domain name. Looking for a free name? The domain availability checker tests 14 extensions at once.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out who owns a domain name?
Run a WHOIS: if the registrant is an organisation that accepts publication, its name and country are shown. For an individual, the data is redacted and only the registrar can pass it on, upon a justified request.
Is WHOIS free?
Yes. Registries publish this data for free; DomaineScore shows it without sign-up, within a few dozen lookups per hour to prevent abuse.
Why is the owner's name hidden?
Privacy laws such as the GDPR forbid publishing the personal data of individual registrants. Many companies also use a privacy service offered by their registrar.
What does a recent creation date mean?
The name was registered recently, or registered again after expiring. Both cases are normal, but a site claiming years of history on a domain a few weeks old deserves extra checks.