What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a protocol that provides information about domain names, IP addresses, and other resources registered with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). It is a public database that stores information about domain name registrants, such as their name, address, email, phone number, and other relevant information.

The WHOIS protocol is used to query this database and retrieve information about a domain name, including its registration and expiration date, registrar information, and name servers. This information is helpful for website owners, domain buyers and sellers, and law enforcement agencies.

While the WHOIS database is publicly accessible, some registrars and domain privacy services may provide a way to hide the registrant's personal information from public view. In general, domain registrars are required to collect and maintain accurate and up-to-date WHOIS information for their customers.