What does WHOIS mean?
The word WHOIS always refers to the so-called WHOIS query. You can use this query to retrieve data about the rightful owner of a domain. The WHOIS query can also be used to find out whether a particular domain is still available. A WHOIS query is not a service that is only accessible to a select group of people or authorities. In principle, any natural person can find out the owner data of selected domains.
Why can a WHOIS query be useful?
Using a WHOIS query, anyone can use a kind of search engine to find out who owns a selected domain and who the operator of a website is. The Administrative Contact, or technical administrator for short, can also be found and contacted via WHOIS. A WHOIS query is always relevant if in-depth information about the operator of a website is required. The data from a WHOIS query can also be helpful if, for example, a website does not have a proper legal notice. To summarize, a WHOIS query can be useful if:
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a website violates legal provisions
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there is a technical problem with a page
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would like to buy a specific domain
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no imprint is available
Which domain registries are there?
When the Internet was still in its infancy, only the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency was responsible for information about a domain owner. Over time, however, the Internet became increasingly popular and so there were more and more domains and registries for these web addresses, some of which were misused. For example, criminals have tried to use the extensive information in the WHOIS query to contact website operators with spam messages. Since the number of such incidents has increased, WHOIS queries have been subject to strict guidelines when it comes to data protection. Nevertheless, all necessary information can still be viewed after some security measures have been taken. A very well-known contact point for WHOIS queries is who.is. If information is to be retrieved from a .de domain, there is no way around DENIC. This is the only provider that stores data on the German domain.
What data can be found in a WHOIS query?
The data stored in a WHOIS query is not always standardized and sometimes the same data is not available for all domains. In many cases, this also has to do with whether an address is used commercially or only privately. Basically, however, the data can be found for a registered domain that would also be found in a normal legal notice. This includes the address of the website operator, the contact details and also the technical contact person (in many cases the web host). It is also possible to see when a domain was registered.
Where can a WHOIS query be made?
Each domain registry has its own database for Internet addresses. Which is the right place to go for a particular domain must always be decided on a case-by-case basis. A list from ICANN can be used to find out which is the right place to go.
Is a WHOIS query useful for SEO?
In addition to many other aspects, the WHOIS query is also relevant for search engine optimization based on the stored contact details. Potential partners can also find out in advance whether a website operator makes a reputable impression and whether other domains are registered to someone.
Who can make a WHOIS query?
Although the guidelines for a WHOIS query have been tightened due to cases of abuse in the past, a WHOIS query is still no problem for a natural person in 2022. Extensive information about a website operator can be viewed with just a few clicks.
