Domain lookup (WHOIS)
Type a domain to see which company it's registered with, when it was registered, when it expires, its nameservers and whether it's locked against transfer. For .co.uk and .uk domains you also get the IPS tag.
We don't see or save what you type. The lookup goes from your browser to the domain registry's public RDAP service.
Your result
Fill in the form to begin
Type a domain and the registry's answer appears here.
Where the answer comes from
The old WHOIS system has been replaced by RDAP, a newer standard that registries use to publish domain records in a consistent format. This tool asks the public RDAP directory, which passes the question to the right registry: Nominet for .uk domains, Verisign for .com and .net, and so on.
It shows the registrar (the company that manages the domain), the dates, the status flags, the nameservers and whether DNSSEC is switched on. For .uk domains, the registrar’s tag is its IPS tag, which is what you change to move a domain to another company.
What a domain lookup tells you
Every registered domain has a public record at its registry. It shows who manages the domain, not always who owns it, plus the dates and technical settings that decide where the domain points.
Before you buy
If the name you want is taken, the expiry date tells you whether it might come free soon, and the nameservers show whether anyone is using it. A domain with no website and no email might be worth trying a different ending for instead. Register available names in our domain search.
Before you move a domain
Check the registrar and the transfer lock. For .uk domains, note the IPS tag, because that’s what changes when the domain moves. For .com and similar, you’ll need the lock off and an authorisation code. Our guide on transferring a domain to WebHostGB explains both.
To check your own domain
Make sure the expiry date is a long way off or set to renew, and that the domain is registered with a company you have a login for. If a former web designer registered it, check it’s in your business’s name. See what happens to your domain if you leave.
Questions about this tool
How do I find out who owns a domain?
The lookup shows which company the domain is registered with. The owner’s name is usually hidden for privacy. For a .uk domain, Nominet can pass on a message in some cases. See our guide on how to check who owns a domain.
What does a transfer lock mean?
The owner, or their registrar, has blocked transfers to another company. It’s a security setting. The owner can switch it off in their account before moving the domain.
What is an IPS tag?
It’s the short name Nominet gives each company that manages .uk domains. Changing a domain’s IPS tag moves it to another company. See how to transfer a .uk domain with an IPS tag.
The domain I want is taken. What can I do?
Check when it expires, try a different ending such as .uk or .com, or add your town or trade. Our domain name ideas tool suggests alternatives.
Is WHOIS the same as RDAP?
They answer the same question. RDAP is the newer system that has replaced WHOIS for most domain endings, with more consistent and more private results.
Related free tools
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