Why is the WHOIS record for a domain redacted?

The GDPR took effect in 2018 and ICANN issued a Temporary Specification requiring registries and registrars to withhold personal data from public output. Most contact fields for private registrants are now replaced with a redaction notice and a forwarding address. Legitimate access requests go through the registrar or the RDAP tiered-access process.

What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?

WHOIS is a plain-text protocol from 1982 with no consistent format, no authentication, and no internationalisation. RDAP returns structured JSON over HTTPS, supports differentiated access, and is standardised in RFC 7480 through 7484. ICANN has required RDAP for gTLDs since 2019, and it is the source we prefer.

Can I find who owns an IP address?

You can find the organisation the block is registered to, which for a datacenter address is the hosting provider rather than the customer running the machine. Smaller allocations sometimes name the end customer in the netname. There is no public record linking a residential address to a person.

The domain looks unregistered but I cannot buy it. Why?

Check the status codes. redemptionPeriod and pendingDelete mean a previous registration expired and is still working through the deletion sequence, which takes about 75 days total. Some registries also reserve names or hold them at premium pricing without showing a registration.

Is a WHOIS lookup visible to the domain owner?

Not through the query itself. RDAP and WHOIS queries go to the registry or registrar, not to the domain holder. Registries log queries and rate-limit them, so heavy automated querying gets throttled or blocked.

WHOIS Lookup

Look up the registration record for a domain or an IP block, RDAP first, with port 43 WHOIS as the fallback.

AS recordAS15557

Structured RDAP from rdap.db.ripe.net.

Allocation

Normalised from RDAP

AS number: AS15557
Netname: LDCOMNET
Holder: Societe Francaise Du Radiotelephone - SFR SA
Country: Not published
Registry: RIPE — RIPE Network Coordination Centre
Block: Not published
Registered: 2002-09-19T07:03:27Z
Last changed: 2026-09-04T07:47:12Z
Abuse contact: abuse@gaoland.net
Status: active
Registry server: rdap.db.ripe.net

Raw RDAP JSON

{
  "handle": "AS15557",
  "startAutnum": 15557,
  "endAutnum": 15557,
  "name": "LDCOMNET",
  "status": [
    "active"
  ],
  "entities": [
    {
      "handle": "LD699-RIPE",
      "vcardArray": [
        "vcard",
        [
          [
            "version",
            {},
            "text",
            "4.0"
          ],
          [
            "fn",
            {},
            "text",
            "SFR Legal Contact"
          ],
          [
            "kind",
            {},
            "text",
            "group"
          ],
          [
            "adr",
            {
              "label": "Campus SFR\n12 rue Jean-Philippe Rameau\nCS 80001\n93634 La-Plaine-Saint-Denis Cedex\nFrance"
            },
            "text",
            [
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              ""
            ]
          ],
          [
            "tel",
            {
              "type": "voice"
            },
            "text",
            "+33 1 70 18 52 00"
          ],
          [
            "email",
            {
              "type": "abuse"
            },
            "text",
            "abuse@gaoland.net"
          ]
        ]
      ],
      "roles": [
        "administrative"
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
          "rel": "self",
          "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/entity/LD699-RIPE"
        },
        {
          "value": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms",
          "rel": "copyright",
          "href": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms"
        }
      ],
      "objectClassName": "entity"
    },
    {
      "handle": "LDC76-RIPE",
      "vcardArray": [
        "vcard",
        [
          [
            "version",
            {},
            "text",
            "4.0"
          ],
          [
            "fn",
            {},
            "text",
            "SFR Tech Contact (formerly Neuf Cegetel / LDCOM Networks)"
          ],
          [
            "kind",
            {},
            "text",
            "group"
          ],
          [
            "adr",
            {
              "label": "SFR\nCAMPUS SFR\n16 rue du General Alain de Boissieu\nCS 68217\n75741 PARIS CEDEX 15\nFrance"
            },
            "text",
            [
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              ""
            ]
          ],
          [
            "tel",
            {
              "type": "voice"
            },
            "text",
            "+33 1 85 06 00 00"
          ],
          [
            "email",
            {
              "type": "abuse"
            },
            "text",
            "abuse@gaoland.net"
          ]
        ]
      ],
      "roles": [
        "technical"
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
          "rel": "self",
          "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/entity/LDC76-RIPE"
        },
        {
          "value": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms",
          "rel": "copyright",
          "href": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms"
        }
      ],
      "objectClassName": "entity"
    },
    {
      "handle": "ORG-VF1-RIPE",
      "vcardArray": [
        "vcard",
        [
          [
            "version",
            {},
            "text",
            "4.0"
          ],
          [
            "fn",
            {},
            "text",
            "Societe Francaise Du Radiotelephone - SFR SA"
          ],
          [
            "kind",
            {},
            "text",
            "org"
          ],
          [
            "adr",
            {
              "label": "16 rue du Général Alain De Boissieu\n75015\nParis\nFRANCE"
            },
            "text",
            [
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              ""
            ]
          ],
          [
            "tel",
            {
              "type": "voice"
            },
            "text",
            "+33 1 70 18 52 00"
          ],
          [
            "tel",
            {
              "type": "fax"
            },
            "text",
            "+33 1 70 18 11 61"
          ]
        ]
      ],
      "roles": [
        "registrant"
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
          "rel": "self",
          "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/entity/ORG-VF1-RIPE"
        },
        {
          "value": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms",
          "rel": "copyright",
          "href": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms"
        }
      ],
      "objectClassName": "entity"
    },
    {
      "handle": "RIPE-NCC-END-MNT",
      "vcardArray": [
        "vcard",
        [
          [
            "version",
            {},
            "text",
            "4.0"
          ],
          [
            "fn",
            {},
            "text",
            "RIPE-NCC-END-MNT"
          ],
          [
            "kind",
            {},
            "text",
            "individual"
          ],
          [
            "org",
            {},
            "text",
            "ORG-NCC1-RIPE"
          ]
        ]
      ],
      "roles": [
        "registrant"
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
          "rel": "self",
          "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/entity/RIPE-NCC-END-MNT"
        },
        {
          "value": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms",
          "rel": "copyright",
          "href": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms"
        }
      ],
      "objectClassName": "entity"
    },
    {
      "handle": "SFR-MNT",
      "vcardArray": [
        "vcard",
        [
          [
            "version",
            {},
            "text",
            "4.0"
          ],
          [
            "fn",
            {},
            "text",
            "SFR-MNT"
          ],
          [
            "kind",
            {},
            "text",
            "individual"
          ]
        ]
      ],
      "roles": [
        "registrant"
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
          "rel": "self",
          "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/entity/SFR-MNT"
        },
        {
          "value": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms",
          "rel": "copyright",
          "href": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms"
        }
      ],
      "objectClassName": "entity"
    },
    {
      "handle": "AR15368-RIPE",
      "vcardArray": [
        "vcard",
        [
          [
            "version",
            {},
            "text",
            "4.0"
          ],
          [
            "fn",
            {},
            "text",
            "Abuse-C Role"
          ],
          [
            "kind",
            {},
            "text",
            "group"
          ],
          [
            "adr",
            {
              "label": "SFR Xavier Caillaud Immeuble Quai Ouest 40-42 Quai Du Point Du Jour 92100 BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT France"
            },
            "text",
            [
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              "",
              ""
            ]
          ],
          [
            "email",
            {
              "type": "abuse"
            },
            "text",
            "abuse@gaoland.net"
          ]
        ]
      ],
      "roles": [
        "abuse"
      ],
      "entities": [
        {
          "handle": "SFR-MNT",
          "vcardArray": [
            "vcard",
            [
              [
                "version",
                {},
                "text",
                "4.0"
              ],
              [
                "fn",
                {},
                "text",
                "SFR-MNT"
              ],
              [
                "kind",
                {},
                "text",
                "individual"
              ]
            ]
          ],
          "roles": [
            "registrant"
          ],
          "links": [
            {
              "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
              "rel": "self",
              "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/entity/SFR-MNT"
            },
            {
              "value": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms",
              "rel": "copyright",
              "href": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms"
            }
          ],
          "objectClassName": "entity"
        }
      ],
      "objectClassName": "entity"
    }
  ],
  "remarks": [
    {
      "description": [
        "--- I3Dnet ---",
        "---UNITEL---",
        "---------------------------------------------------",
        "--- Transits ---",
        "--- Affiliate ---",
        "--- Peers ---",
        "--- WIFIRST ---",
        "--- APPLE ---",
        "--- NETFLIX ---",
        "--- ORANGE ---",
        "--- SWISSCOM ---",
        "--- BYTEL ---",
        "--- ABOVENET ---",
        "--- RIOTGAMES ---",
        "--- MONACO TELECOM ---",
        "--- LIBERTY ---",
        "--- MICROSOFT ---",
        "--- ZAYO ---",
        "--- RETN ---",
        "--- PROXAD ---",
        "--- ONLINE ---",
        "--- CLOUDFLARE ---",
        "--- GOOGLE ---",
        "--- OVH ---",
        "--- AMAZON ---",
        "--- AKAMAI ---",
        "--- CANALPLUS ---",
        "---VALVE---",
        "--- FACEBOOK ---",
        "--- SONY CGEI ---",
        "--- GMBH ---",
        "--- DAILYMOTION ---",
        "--- FRANCE TELEVISION ---",
        "--- HOPUS ---",
        "--- ETF1 ---",
        "---FASTLY---",
        "--- BLIZZARD ---",
        "--- CDN77 ---",
        "---AS-GCORE---",
        "--- ORANGE CDN---",
        "--- BYTEDANCE---",
        "",
        "--- DSP ---",
        "--- Customers ---",
        "--- Other ---",
        "--- Exchange points ---",
        "For Peering request please send email to : peering at sfr.fr",
        "You can find network informations on http://peering.sfr.fr",
        "Our public peering point of presence are :",
        "SFINX - 20G - 194.68.129.178 - http://www.sfinx.tm.fr",
        "FRANCEIX LYON (LYONIX) - 100G - 77.95.71.13 - 2001:07f8:0047:0047::d - http://www.lyonix.net",
        "LINX - 20G - 195.66.224.214 - 2001:7f8:4::3cc5:1/64 - http://www.linx.net",
        "LINX - 10G - 195.66.236.214 - 2001:7f8:4:1::3cc5:1/64 - http://www.linx.net",
        "AMSIX - 20G - 80.249.209.147 - http://www.ams-ix.net",
        "DE-CIX - 20G - 80.81.192.201 - http://www.de-cix.net",
        "DE-CIX - 10G - 80.81.193.201 - http://www.de-cix.net",
        "EQUINIX NY - 10G - 198.32.118.107 - 2001:504:f::20/64 - http://www.equinix.fr/",
        "EQUINIX PARIS - 100G - 195.42.144.66/23 - 2001:7f8:43::1:5557:1/64 - http://www.equinix.fr/",
        "EQUINIX PA3 - 100G - 195.42.145.99/23 - 2001:7f8:43::1:5557:2/64 - http://www.equinix.fr/",
        "FRANCEIX PARIS - 100G - 37.49.237.65/23 - 2001:7f8:54::1:65/64 - https://www.franceix.net/",
        "FRANCEIX MARSEILLE - 100G - 37.49.232.23/23 - 2001:7f8:54:5::23/64 - https://www.franceix.net/",
        "NINE-IX PARIS - 100G - 185.1.14.59/24 - 2001:7f8:12e::1:5557:1/64 - https://nine-ix.net/",
        "------------------------------------------------------",
        "Communities to be used by Customers",
        "if x=9 DO NOT announce, x=1 Prepend Once, x=2 Prepend Twice",
        "15557:10x announce All Transit",
        "15557:30x announce All Peering",
        "15557:11x TUNE announce to upstream NTT (AS2914)",
        "15557:12x TUNE announce to upstream DTAG (AS3320)",
        "15557:15x TUNE announce to upstream TELIA (AS1299)",
        "15557:16x TUNE announce to upstream TIS (AS6762)",
        "15557:18x TUNE announce to upstream COGENT (AS174)",
        "15557:55x TUNE announce to upstream VODAFONE (AS1273)",
        "15557:22x TUNE announce to NINEIX exchange point peers",
        "15557:32x TUNE announce to SFINX exchange point peers",
        "15557:34x TUNE announce to LYONIX exchange point peers",
        "15557:35x TUNE announce to LINX exchange point peers",
        "15557:36x TUNE announce to AMSIX exchange point peers",
        "15557:38x TUNE announce to DECIX exchange point peers",
        "15557:43x TUNE announce to EQUINIX NY exchange point peers",
        "15557:44x TUNE announce to FRANCEIX exchange point peers",
        "15557:47x TUNE announce to EQUINIX PARIS / PA3 exchange point peers",
        "15557:53x TUNE announce to HOPUS exchange point peers",
        "15557:19x TUNE announce to MONACO TELECOM (AS6758)",
        "15557:20x TUNE announce to CLOUDFLARE (AS13335)",
        "15557:21x TUNE announce to GMBH (AS33891)",
        "15557:23x TUNE announce to CANALPLUS (AS29264)",
        "15557:24x TUNE announce to I3D (AS49544)",
        "15557:25x TUNE announce to GCORE (AS199524)",
        "15557:26x TUNE announce to BLIZZARD (AS57976)",
        "15557:27x TUNE announce to OMT (AS20776)",
        "15557:31x TUNE announce to ORANGE (AS3215)",
        "15557:33x TUNE announce to MICROSOFT (AS8075)",
        "15557:39x TUNE announce to DAILYMOTION (AS41690)",
        "15557:40x TUNE announce to COMPLETEL (AS12670)",
        "15557:41x TUNE announce to BYTEL (AS5410)",
        "15557:45x TUNE announce to FACEBOOK (AS32934)",
        "15557:46x TUNE announce to SFR CLOUD (AS12566)",
        "15557:48x TUNE announce to ONLINE (AS12876)",
        "15557:49x TUNE announce to NETFLIX (AS2906)",
        "15557:50x TUNE announce to SWISSCOM (AS3303)",
        "15557:51x TUNE announce to LIBERTY (AS6830)",
        "15557:52x TUNE announce to ABOVENET (AS6461)",
        "15557:53x TUNE announce to HOPUS (AS44530)",
        "15557:56x TUNE announce to NUMERICABLE (AS21502)",
        "15557:57x TUNE announce to VALVE (AS32590)",
        "15557:59x TUNE announce to WIFIRST (AS52075)",
        "15557:62x TUNE announce to RIOTGAMES (AS6507)",
        "15557:63x TUNE announce to FREE (AS12322)",
        "15557:64x TUNE announce to ZAYO (AS8218)",
        "15557:65x TUNE announce to OVH (AS16276)",
        "15557:66x TUNE announce to CORIOLIS (AS60032)",
        "15557:67x TUNE announce to SONY (AS33353)",
        "15557:69x TUNE announce to GOOGLE (AS15169)",
        "15557:71x TUNE announce to AMAZON (AS16509)",
        "15557:73x TUNE announce to AKAMAI (AS20960)",
        "15557:74x TUNE announce to APPLE (AS714)",
        "15557:75x TUNE announce to ORANGE CDN (AS328126)",
        "15557:76x TUNE announce to UNITEL (AS52013)",
        "15557:77x TUNE announce to ETF1 (AS49477)",
        "15557:78x TUNE announce to RETN (AS9002)",
        "15557:79x TUNE announce to BYTEDANCE (AS396986)",
        "15557:81x TUNE announce to CDN77 (AS60068)",
        "15557:82x TUNE announce to SYMA (AS207589)",
        "15557:85x TUNE announce to FASTLY (AS54113)",
        "---------------------------------------------------------------"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    {
      "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "rel": "rdap-up",
      "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnums/rirSearch1/rdap-up/AS15557",
      "type": "application/rdap+json"
    },
    {
      "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "rel": "rdap-up rdap-active",
      "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnums/rirSearch1/rdap-up/AS15557?status=active",
      "type": "application/rdap+json"
    },
    {
      "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "rel": "rdap-down",
      "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnums/rirSearch1/rdap-down/AS15557",
      "type": "application/rdap+json"
    },
    {
      "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "rel": "rdap-top",
      "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnums/rirSearch1/rdap-top/AS15557",
      "type": "application/rdap+json"
    },
    {
      "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "rel": "rdap-top rdap-active",
      "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnums/rirSearch1/rdap-top/AS15557?status=active",
      "type": "application/rdap+json"
    },
    {
      "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "rel": "rdap-bottom",
      "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnums/rirSearch1/rdap-bottom/AS15557",
      "type": "application/rdap+json"
    },
    {
      "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "rel": "self",
      "href": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
      "type": "application/rdap+json"
    },
    {
      "value": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms",
      "rel": "copyright",
      "href": "http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation/terms"
    }
  ],
  "events": [
    {
      "eventAction": "registration",
      "eventDate": "2002-09-19T07:03:27Z"
    },
    {
      "eventAction": "last changed",
      "eventDate": "2026-09-04T07:47:12Z"
    }
  ],
  "rdapConformance": [
    "nro_rdap_profile_asn_flat_0",
    "rirSearch1",
    "autnums",
    "cidr0",
    "rdap_level_0",
    "nro_rdap_profile_0",
    "redacted"
  ],
  "notices": [
    {
      "title": "Filtered",
      "description": [
        "This output has been filtered."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Whois Inaccuracy Reporting",
      "description": [
        "If you see inaccuracies in the results, please visit:"
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
          "rel": "inaccuracy-report",
          "href": "https://www.ripe.net/contact-form?topic=ripe_dbm&show_form=true",
          "type": "text/html"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Source",
      "description": [
        "Objects returned came from source",
        "RIPE"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Terms and Conditions",
      "description": [
        "This is the RIPE Database query service. The objects are in RDAP format."
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "value": "https://rdap.db.ripe.net/autnum/15557",
          "rel": "terms-of-service",
          "href": "http://www.ripe.net/db/support/db-terms-conditions.pdf",
          "type": "application/pdf"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "port43": "whois.ripe.net",
  "objectClassName": "autnum",
  "redacted": [
    {
      "name": {
        "description": "Personal e-mail information"
      },
      "reason": {
        "description": "Personal data"
      },
      "prePath": "$.entities[?(@.handle=='LD699-RIPE')].vcardArray[1][?(@[0]=='e-mail')]",
      "method": "removal"
    },
    {
      "name": {
        "description": "Personal e-mail information"
      },
      "reason": {
        "description": "Personal data"
      },
      "prePath": "$.entities[?(@.handle=='LDC76-RIPE')].vcardArray[1][?(@[0]=='e-mail')]",
      "method": "removal"
    },
    {
      "name": {
        "description": "Personal e-mail information"
      },
      "reason": {
        "description": "Personal data"
      },
      "prePath": "$.entities[?(@.handle=='ORG-VF1-RIPE')].vcardArray[1][?(@[0]=='e-mail')]",
      "method": "removal"
    },
    {
      "name": {
        "description": "Personal e-mail information"
      },
      "reason": {
        "description": "Personal data"
      },
      "prePath": "$.entities[?(@.handle=='AR15368-RIPE')].vcardArray[1][?(@[0]=='e-mail')]",
      "method": "removal"
    }
  ]
}

Cached for six hours. The same record as JSON: /api/v1/rdap. Add &raw=1 for the unmodified registry document.

RDAP first, WHOIS as a fallback

RDAP gives us typed fields, so the normalised view on this page is a mapping rather than a guess. Classic WHOIS output has no schema at all; each registry invented its own labels, and parsing it reliably is a losing game. When a registry publishes no RDAP endpoint, usually an older country-code registry, we fall back to a port 43 query and show the raw text with only light normalisation. The result labels which path was used.

Reading the raw output

The raw response stays collapsed under the normalised view. Open it when a field looks wrong, when the registry publishes something we did not map, or when you need the exact text for a dispute or a transfer request. Registry text is authoritative; our normalisation is a convenience.

Caching

Results cache for six hours. WHOIS and RDAP data changes on the scale of days, registries rate-limit aggressively, and hammering them for a value that did not move helps nobody. If you need a fresh read after a change you just made, wait out the cache rather than retrying in a loop.

About this tool

Enter a domain or an address. We query RDAP first, the structured JSON successor to WHOIS, and fall back to port 43 WHOIS where a registry runs none. A domain returns the registrar, creation and expiry dates, nameservers, and EPP status codes, and an address returns the RIR, netname, organisation, country, and abuse contact. Personal details are usually redacted under privacy law, and results cache for six hours.

How to read the result

Registrar: The accredited company through which the domain was registered, which is where it was bought rather than who owns it. A transfer changes this field while the registrant stays the same.
Creation, updated, and expiry dates: Registry timestamps in UTC for when the domain was created, last changed, and paid through. The expiry date is the paid-through date, not the deletion date, and after it a domain usually passes through a renewal grace period, then redemption, then pending-delete, roughly 75 days in total.
Nameservers: The nameservers recorded at the registry as the delegation for this domain. They can differ from the NS records the zone itself serves, when a zone was changed without updating the delegation, which is a lame delegation.
EPP status codes: Registry and registrar locks that say what can be done with the domain right now. clientTransferProhibited is normal and prevents unauthorised transfers, serverHold means the domain is not published in the zone at all, and pendingDelete and redemptionPeriod mean an expired domain is moving toward deletion.
Registrant details or a redaction notice: For most generic and European domains the registrant name, address, and email are withheld under GDPR and ICANN Temporary Specification policy, leaving a registrar-operated forwarding address. Some country registries publish more, and business registrations often do.
For IP addresses, RIR, netname, org, and abuse contact: The Regional Internet Registry that allocated the block, the registered netname, the holding organisation, and the abuse mailbox to complain to. For a hosting provider the organisation is the provider rather than their customer, and that mailbox is where a complaint about the customer goes.

Questions people ask

Why is the WHOIS record for a domain redacted?: The GDPR took effect in 2018 and ICANN issued a Temporary Specification requiring registries and registrars to withhold personal data from public output. Most contact fields for private registrants are now replaced with a redaction notice and a forwarding address. Legitimate access requests go through the registrar or the RDAP tiered-access process.
What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?: WHOIS is a plain-text protocol from 1982 with no consistent format, no authentication, and no internationalisation. RDAP returns structured JSON over HTTPS, supports differentiated access, and is standardised in RFC 7480 through 7484. ICANN has required RDAP for gTLDs since 2019, and it is the source we prefer.
Can I find who owns an IP address?: You can find the organisation the block is registered to, which for a datacenter address is the hosting provider rather than the customer running the machine. Smaller allocations sometimes name the end customer in the netname. There is no public record linking a residential address to a person.
The domain looks unregistered but I cannot buy it. Why?: Check the status codes. redemptionPeriod and pendingDelete mean a previous registration expired and is still working through the deletion sequence, which takes about 75 days total. Some registries also reserve names or hold them at premium pricing without showing a registration.
Is a WHOIS lookup visible to the domain owner?: Not through the query itself. RDAP and WHOIS queries go to the registry or registrar, not to the domain holder. Registries log queries and rate-limit them, so heavy automated querying gets throttled or blocked.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05.