What is a WHOIS lookup?

A WHOIS lookup is a query tool that provides information about a domain name, including its registration date, expiration date, registrar information, and in some cases, the domain owner's contact details.

Is WHOIS lookup free?

Yes, our WHOIS lookup tool is completely free to use. You can perform unlimited searches for any domain name.

Can I use WHOIS to check if a domain is available?

Yes, if a WHOIS search returns 'No match for domain' or a similar message, it generally means the domain is available for registration. However, for the most accurate availability check, we recommend using our domain search tool.

WHOIS Lookup

What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a query and response protocol that provides information about domain names, including ownership details, registration and expiry dates, and contact information.

Use our free WHOIS lookup tool to check the status and availability of any domain name.

Why use WHOIS Lookup?

Verify Domain Availability

Check if a domain name is available for registration.

Protect Your Brand

Monitor domain registrations related to your brand.

Check Expiry Dates

See when domains expire and when they'll be available again.

Supported Domain Extensions

Our WHOIS lookup tool supports various domain extensions, including both global TLDs and country-specific domains.

Global TLDs

.com
.net
.org
.info
.biz

Turkish Domains

.com.tr
.net.tr
.org.tr
.biz.tr
.web.tr

Special Domains

.edu.tr
.gov.tr
.mil.tr
.k12.tr
.bel.tr

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything You Need to Know About WHOIS

Find answers to common questions about WHOIS lookups, domain information, and how to use our free tool effectively.

What information does a WHOIS lookup provide?

Why can't I see the owner's details for some domains?

How accurate is the WHOIS information?

What is WHOIS Privacy Protection and should I use it?

How do WHOIS requirements differ for .tr domains?

USER GUIDE

How to Use Our WHOIS Lookup Tool

Follow these simple steps to get information about any domain name using our WHOIS lookup tool.

Enter Domain Name

Type the domain name you want to check in the search box. You can enter any domain name with or without 'www' (e.g., example.com or www.example.com).

Click Search

Click the 'Search' button or press Enter to submit your query. Our tool will then connect to the appropriate WHOIS servers to retrieve information about the domain.

View Results

The WHOIS information for the domain will be displayed, including registration details, nameservers, and registrar information. If the domain is available, you'll see a message indicating it's not registered.

Pro Tips for Using WHOIS Lookup

TLD Specificity: For more accurate results, include the TLD (e.g., .com, .net) in your search.
Domain Name Only: Don't include 'http://' or 'https://' in your search query.
Check Multiple Extensions: If you're interested in a domain name, check it with different extensions.

Look for Expiry Dates: Check when domains expire if you're interested in acquiring them.
Be Aware of Privacy: Many domain owners use privacy protection, so contact information may be limited.
Use for Verification: Verify domain ownership or check a website's legitimacy before transactions.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Understanding WHOIS Protocol

Dive deeper into the technical aspects of WHOIS protocol, its history, and how it works behind the scenes.

History of WHOIS

Tracing the evolution of the WHOIS protocol from its origins to the modern domain registration system.

The WHOIS protocol dates back to the early 1980s, when the Internet was still in its infancy. Elizabeth Feinler and her team at the Stanford Research Institute Network Information Center (SRI-NIC) developed the initial 'directory' of ARPANET users, which later evolved into what we now know as WHOIS.

The protocol was standardized in 1982 with RFC 812, and later updated with RFC 954 in 1985. Originally, WHOIS was designed to provide contact information for network administrators and operators, primarily to help resolve technical issues.

As the Internet grew, so did the importance of the WHOIS protocol. With the commercialization of the Internet in the 1990s and the introduction of the Domain Name System (DNS), WHOIS became an essential tool for tracking domain name registrations and ownership information.

The WHOIS protocol operates on a client-server model. When you query a domain name through a WHOIS client (like our lookup tool), the following happens:

The client sends a query to the appropriate WHOIS server for the top-level domain (e.g., .com, .net, .tr).
The WHOIS server looks up the domain name in its database.
The server returns the registration information (if the domain exists) or a 'not found' message (if it doesn't).
The client displays this information to the user in a readable format.

WHOIS uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and traditionally operates on port 43. The protocol is text-based and relatively simple, which contributes to its widespread adoption and longevity.

How WHOIS Works

Understanding the technical infrastructure and process flow of WHOIS queries from client to server.

The Future of WHOIS

Exploring how WHOIS is evolving and the next generation of domain registration data access protocols.

The traditional WHOIS protocol has served the Internet community well for decades, but it has limitations in today's privacy-focused and more regulated online environment. Several developments are shaping the future of WHOIS:

RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol): A more structured, secure, and extensible replacement for WHOIS that enables more standardized access to registration data.
Privacy Regulations: GDPR and similar regulations worldwide are changing what information can be publicly displayed in WHOIS records.
Tiered Access: Future systems may implement tiered access models where full WHOIS data is only available to authenticated users with legitimate purposes.
Centralized Systems: Efforts are underway to create more centralized registration data systems that would replace the current distributed WHOIS model.

Despite these changes, the core function of providing transparency about domain registrations remains crucial for Internet security, accountability, and trust.

WHOIS data plays a critical role in various aspects of Internet security and administration:

Abuse Prevention: Security researchers and law enforcement use WHOIS data to track down sources of phishing, malware distribution, and spam.
IP Protection: Intellectual property owners use WHOIS to identify and contact domain owners in cases of trademark or copyright infringement.
Domain Management: WHOIS helps domain owners verify their registration details and ensure their domains are properly configured.
Network Troubleshooting: System administrators use WHOIS to identify contacts for resolving technical issues between networks.

The challenge in the modern era is balancing the security benefits of transparent WHOIS data with the legitimate privacy concerns of domain registrants. This is why many registrars, including Eka Sunucu, offer privacy protection services that shield personal information while still allowing legitimate parties to contact domain owners through proxied means.