Domain Lookup
Peek behind the domain curtain.
What is RDAP?
It’s the modern system used to look up domain registration information, including ownership details, key dates, nameservers, and other basic domain data.
What will I learn?
You’ll see creation dates, expiration dates, and domain status. Privacy rules are stronger today, and owner details are usually hidden and replaced with registrar info.
Concerned about privacy?
Us too. That’s why we provide full privacy protection as an added layer of security beyond RDAP’s default safeguards, listing our data in the records instead of yours.
What is the RDAP system?
RDAP is the standardized lookup service that offers access to domain registration data. It was introduced to replace the older WHOIS system and to bring domain lookups in line with today’s security and privacy expectations.
While WHOIS showed results in many different formats depending on the provider, RDAP is more secure and easier to read. It was created to fix the long-standing issues with WHOIS, including inconsistency and lack of built-in privacy protections. All major registries and registrars now support RDAP as the primary lookup system.
But even with RDAP’s privacy improvements, many domain owners still prefer an additional layer of protection. We include full privacy protection at no extra cost, giving you stronger privacy than RDAP alone provides. Your personal details stay hidden, your domain stays secure, and you get peace of mind without paying extra for it.
Are the search results still useful with personal details redacted?
Yes—an RDAP query can still provide valuable information about a domain name, starting with whether or not it has been registered (if not, it may be available!). You’ll also learn:
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which registrar is responsible for the domain;
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when the registration period will expire;
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when the domain’s records were last modified (a recent change usually hints that a domain is being actively used), and;
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how to reach the registrar to report any abuse or compliance issues.
If the domain you’re after is taken, reach out to us. We can help you find a unique alternative that fits the bill.
How is RDAP lookup different from a domain name search?
You type a domain name in a search bar, hit enter, and learn something you didn’t know before. But is an RDAP lookup the same as using a domain name search tool? Not exactly.
A reliable domain name search tool is still your best bet for finding out if the domain you want is available—giving you the most accurate, up-to-date information on a domain’s status. If your first choice is taken, a good search tool can suggest variations—or help you come up with a different name entirely.
In contrast, an RDAP lookup gives you more detail about a registered domain, including its registrar, key dates, and indicators of recent activity. Just keep in mind that RDAP depends on registries and registrars to publish updates, so delays can occur.
That’s why we advise using a trusted availability tool to get the clearest picture of a domain’s current status.
What can you do with RDAP?
Find key details
Curious about that killer domain? An RDAP lookup may provide key facts, including the registrar’s name, key dates, and any publicly available ownership information.
Get in touch
While you may not find the domain owner’s phone number, an RDAP lookup may provide you with other ways to reach out, such as the registrar’s contact info, a proxy email address, or a built-in contact form.
Check expiry dates
Use an RDAP lookup to help track the expiration dates of domains you’re interested in. Failure to renew by the due date—or during the post-expiration grace period—could signal that the owner is ready to sell.
Monitor your brand
To protect your brand, use RDAP to look up similar registered domains. If you suspect a domain was purchased in bad faith, take necessary action.
RDAP system at a glance
Whether you’re new to domains or a seasoned expert, RDAP can help you gather crucial data. And thanks to modern privacy rules, it also helps reduce the risk of spam. Protect yourself—and check out these essential facts and best practices.
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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) oversees RDAP, and requires every domain owner to provide accurate contact details to their registrar: their name, phone number, email address, and physical address.
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RDAP was introduced to replace the legacy WHOIS system, which dated back to 1982. It was designed to better address concerns around fraud, identity theft, and spam.
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Most domain owners now choose private registration—which replaces their personal contact information with their registrar’s. Your registrar should provide domain privacy without charging you additional fees.
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Though people often think of RDAP as “a database,” it’s actually a standardized lookup service that pulls information from the registries and registrars that maintain their own records. This setup can still result in delays—so a domain name search is a better option for checking availability.
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Understand that the majority of RDAP records no longer contain domain owners’ personal contact details. However, even with a privately registered domain, you can reach out via the proxy email address or a provided contact form.
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Remember that RDAP is still an important resource for trademark investigations and legitimate domain inquiries. To be sure any time-sensitive messages reach you quickly, keep your contact information up-to-date with your registrar.
Domainregistry.com – safely securing your domain since 1996
Identity Protection
Protect your personal information with a private directory listing. We keep your information out of view, shielding you and your data from bad actors.
Privacy Control
Our Domain Privacy feature keeps your email address private, so you’re in control of who contacts you.
Your Privacy, Our Pledge
We are committed to preserving your privacy. We will never share your contact details with a third party, unless we’re legally required to do so, giving you an extra layer of protection beyond RDAP’s built-in safeguards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have unanswered questions about how to conduct an RDAP lookup (or protect your privacy)? Check out our FAQ—or reach out to our team anytime.
If you need to get in touch with a domain owner whose information is hidden, don’t worry—there are still a few ways to reach out.
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First, double-check RDAP for the domain owner’s email address. Even with privacy protections, some owners want to be reachable—especially if they plan on selling the domain name.
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If the RDAP record doesn’t yield any results, check the website itself. If the registrant (owner) is running a business, they will likely have contact information somewhere on the site—or a contact form you can use to get in touch.
Remember that acquiring a great domain takes persistence. Monitor domain names that could boost your brand, keep reaching out, and enlist professional help from a domain broker if the domain is worth the effort.
If you’ve made your contact information public—with the intention of selling a valuable domain—it can be frustrating if potential buyers can’t reach you. Reaching out to your registrar is an easy fix.
Registrars are responsible for ensuring your RDAP contact information is accurate and up-to-date, so they can help you make any necessary changes. Updates to your records are typically reflected in RDAP results within 24 hours.
It’s crucial to keep your contact information current—even if it’s not publicly listed on your domain’s RDAP record. Doing so ensures seamless communication with your registrar and compliance with ICANN regulations. At DomainRegistry.com, we offer instant updates to our RDAP records, and our intuitive profiles allow you to make changes to multiple domains with a single step.
So don’t hesitate to reach out.
RDAP records are generally reliable, but there are a few factors that can impact their accuracy.
Domain owners can and do submit false contact information, and it can take time for inaccuracies to be detected. Registrars are only required to maintain up-to-date records according to ICANN guidelines. Additionally, each registrar maintains their own RDAP records, with some providing more detail than others.
To ensure you have the full picture, it’s always a good idea to double-check with other sources—such as a domain name availability tool. This can help confirm whether a domain is actually registered, and provide other useful information.
If you do find inaccuracies in an RDAP query, you can file a complaint with ICANN to ensure that the records are corrected.
We don’t have a set limit on the number of RDAP searches you can do in a day, but we do monitor usage to ensure that our systems aren’t abused. Using our RDAP system for bulk searching or commercial purposes is against our Terms of Service, and doing so may result in restricted access.
Our RDAP system is intended for individual users to look up domain information for personal or business use. If you need to perform a high volume of searches or have commercial purposes in mind, we recommend exploring alternative services that are better suited to your needs.
We hope that our RDAP system is a helpful tool for you—and we strive to keep it accessible to all who use it responsibly. If you have any questions or concerns about our usage policies, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
To ensure your personal data stays safe, choose a registrar that prioritizes privacy and security. At DomainRegistry.com, we redact personal information from RDAP records by default—and never share your data with third parties unless legally obligated to do so.