What is WHOIS Data ?
Purpose of WHOIS :
WHOIS Lookup Information :
- WHOIS is the system that asks the question, who is responsible for a domain name?
- Whenever we register a domain name, we must provide contact information which includes Name, address, email, phone number.
- We must also provide details of registrant (end customer who registers domain name), billing, administrative and technical contacts for the domain name.
- The information we provide for domain is called WHOIS data and it will be accessed publicly.
- This WHOIS domain data will be maintained by domain registrars (who process the register of domain names) and available for the public to see who owns the domain name and other information.
- To determine whether or not a given domain is available.
- To contact network administrators for resolution of technical matters related to networks associated with a domain name.
- To notify a domain name registrant of the registrant's obligation to maintain accurate registration information.
- To investigate spam, law enforcement agents look to the WHOIS database to collect information on the website advertised in the spam.
WHOIS Lookup Information :
How it works ?
- Starting at WHOIS.IANA.ORG, follow the references to the downstream WHOIS servers unless the required information is obtained.
- This process is illustrated below for a "thick" registry. If the registry has not yet fully transitioned to "thick" still uses a "thin" data model, an additional process query at the registrar's database is required to obtain the WHOIS data for the domain name.