What is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a publicly accessible protocol and database used to look up registration information about internet resources such as IP addresses, AS numbers, and domain names.
Typical Information Provided:
- Organization name
- Contact details (admin, technical)
- IP address allocation or domain ownership
- Status and registration dates
WHOIS is essential for network troubleshooting, abuse reporting, and verifying resource ownership. Data is maintained by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) and domain registrars.