Product Overview: ICANN WHOIS and Registration Data Lookup Tool
Introduction
The ICANN WHOIS and Registration Data Lookup Tool is a free public service provided by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to facilitate the retrieval of publicly available registration data for domain names, IP networks, and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). This tool has evolved to incorporate the latest protocols and technologies to enhance user experience and data accessibility.
What the Product Does
The ICANN WHOIS and Registration Data Lookup Tool allows users to search and retrieve information about the owners of domain names, IP networks, and ASNs. This includes contact details for the registrant, administrative and technical contacts, and other relevant information necessary for maintaining the stability and integrity of the internet.
Key Features and Functionality
Search Capabilities
- Users can enter a domain name, IP network, or ASN into the search box to retrieve current publicly available registration data.
Protocols
- The tool primarily utilizes the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP), developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which is designed to replace the older WHOIS protocol. RDAP offers improved standardized query and response formats, support for internationalization, and enhanced security.
- In cases where RDAP lookup fails, the tool can optionally perform a WHOIS lookup as a fallback mechanism.
Data Display
- The tool displays search results in a user-friendly format, including a single-column layout for easier reading of longer datasets. It also provides the raw data from the registrar and registry operator for each query.
Additional Functionality
- Users can look up the availability of a specific domain name, the date a domain name was registered, and other relevant details such as name servers, domain registrar, and expiration dates.
- The tool supports lookups for ASNs and IP networks, including those using Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) notation, and provides data from the authoritative Regional Internet Registry (RIR).
User Experience Enhancements
- The tool includes improvements such as clearer delimitation of information shown for each contact in the RDAP response and support for vCard format extensions as documented in RFC 8605.
- It also indicates to the user when connectivity issues occur while trying to reach the corresponding RDAP server.
Compliance and Reporting
- The tool ensures compliance with ICANN policies and applicable laws, including the redaction of personal data for privacy. Users can report potentially inaccurate registration data or unavailable services through provided complaint forms.
Benefits
- Registrant Accountability: Access to public registration data helps enhance registrant accountability and maintains a healthy internet ecosystem.
- Technical Issue Resolution: The tool provides key information needed for reporting technical issues or abuse practices related to a specific domain name or IP address.
- User Convenience: The consistent and simple interface allows users to find information about domain name registrations, IP networks, or ASNs from a single location.
Overall, the ICANN WHOIS and Registration Data Lookup Tool is a robust and user-friendly service that leverages modern protocols like RDAP to provide accurate and accessible registration data, contributing to the stability and transparency of the internet.