WHOIS and RDAP: What Domain Registration Data Means
Learn what registrar, registration date, expiry date, nameservers and RDAP status fields mean.
Usefulia · General · Updated
WHOIS and RDAP answer similar questions
WHOIS is the traditional system used to query registration information for domain names. RDAP is a newer structured protocol designed to provide registration data in a more consistent machine-readable format.
The exact information available depends on the top-level domain registry and privacy rules. Some registries expose detailed public records, while others deliberately return less.
Registrar and registry are different roles
The registry operates the database for a top-level domain such as a country-code or generic extension. A registrar is the company through which a customer usually registers and manages a domain.
A lookup may identify one or both, depending on what the registry publishes.
Nameservers tell you where DNS is managed
Nameserver records point toward the DNS infrastructure responsible for answering queries about the domain. They do not necessarily identify the website hosting company.
Registration status, expiry and nameserver information should be treated as registry data, not proof of ownership or business identity.