What is WHOIS

WHOIS (who is) is a query and response protocol that is widely used for querying databases that store the registered users or assignees of an Internet resource, such as a domain name, an IP address block, or an autonomous system, but is also used for a wider range of other information. The protocol stores and delivers database content in a human-readable format

What does Whois Data Reveal?

You can check domain name available or not, check the domain's owner, time of domain name registration and a lot of useful information about the queried domain. Please note that some domains can hide the information by using domain private. And if you are a owner of domains you can use domain private registration service to hide your information from the registrar you already registered domain. This Private option is not free from almost registrar but if you registered domain from DreamHost you can use this option free

Why need to use Whois Tool?

Before you want to purchase domains you need to check that domains are available or not, and sometime we like to view public information about domain. Whois tool is totally free and the legal action on the Internet because the information about owner of domain is grant by ICANN

You can check the time when domain will expire or when that domain was registered and modified

What is WHOIS data used for?

WHOIS is indispensable to the smooth operation of the DNS and is used for many legitimate purposes, including:

• 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 (e.g., DNS or routing matter, origin and path analysis of DoS and other network-based attacks).
• To diagnose registration difficulties. WHOIS queries provide information that is often useful in resolving a registration ownership issue, such as the creation and expiration dates and the identity of the registrar.
• To contact web administrators for resolution of technical matters associated with a domain name.
• To obtain the real world identity, business location and contact information of an online merchant or business, or generally, any organization that has an online presence.
• To associate a company, organization, or individual with a domain name, and to identify the party that is operating a web or other publicly accessible service using a domain name, for commercial or other purposes.
• To contact a domain name registrant for the purpose of discussing and negotiating a secondary market transaction related to a registered domain name.
• To notify a domain name registrant of the registrant's obligation to maintain accurate registration information.
• To contact a domain name registrant on matters related to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
• To establish or look into an identity in cyberspace, and as part of an incident response following an Internet or computer attack. (Security professionals and law enforcement agents use WHOIS to identify points of contact for a domain name.)
• To gather investigative leads (i.e., to identify parties from whom additional information might be obtained). Law enforcement agents use WHOIS to find email addresses and attempt to identify the location of an alleged perpetrator of a crime involving fraud.
• To investigate spam, law enforcement agents look to the WHOIS database to collect information on the website advertised in the spam.

Need to add WHOIS script to your website

There are many types of whois script on Internet, It depends on what kind of your server side script eg PHP, ASP.. If your server is running PHP you can find it out on http://www.hotscripts.com, https://github.com/.. And from other site coders who provide free WHOIS script

What is private domain registration

As threats to online security grow increasingly sophisticated, it's important to protect your privacy by adding private registration to your domain name registration. A lot of registrar will provide alternate contact information for the listing of your private domain name registration in the public WHOIS database.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) requires accredited domain name registrars to submit a listing to the WHOIS database each time a domain name is registered. If you do not elect private registration, this online WHOIS listing will include your personal contact information, such as your email address and phone number available to the public through a simple domain search.
You may be charged for using private domain registration from few dollars a year, but if you register domain from Dreamhost you can use this option for free.

Benefits of Using Whois Private Registration

For a small yearly fee, private domain registration delivers benefits that pay off, including:

Privacy
Use of alternate contact information keeps your personal information out of the public eye.
Protection
Private registration prevents emails from spammers and calls from telemarketers.
Email Masking
The registrar will provide a private registration email address that may be changes each time to avoid messages for spam and forward them to your designated email account.read more