WHOIS
Query WHOIS servers directly, following referrals from IANA to the registry and registrar, and see each raw response.
How a WHOIS lookup works
MtrXTools asks IANA which server holds the record, queries that registry, and follows any referral to the registrar's own WHOIS server. Each raw response is shown, so you see exactly what each server says.
For most generic domains RDAP now gives cleaner, structured data. WHOIS is still the only source for some country-code domains and is useful for comparing what the registry and registrar each report.
Questions
- Why do the registry and registrar show different data?
- For "thin" registries such as .com, the registry holds only basic data and the registrar holds the rest. Dates can also differ briefly after a renewal or transfer.
- Why was my query refused?
- WHOIS servers rate-limit heavily. Wait a minute and try again, or use RDAP, which is less restricted.
- What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?
- They hold the same registration data. WHOIS returns free-form text over port 43 in a different layout at every registry; RDAP returns structured JSON over HTTPS, with standard fields and status codes.