Free RDAP Lookup Tool
Free RDAP lookup tool — view complete domain registration data including registrar, dates, status codes, nameservers, events, and DNSSEC via the modern RDAP protocol.
What Is RDAP?
RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern, IETF-standardized replacement for the legacy WHOIS protocol. Defined in RFC 7480–7484, RDAP provides structured JSON responses over HTTPS with consistent field names, proper internationalization, and built-in access controls.
Unlike WHOIS (which dates to the 1980s and uses plaintext on port 43), RDAP offers encryption, authentication, and machine-readable output. This makes it the preferred protocol for programmatic access to domain registration data.
RDAP vs WHOIS
WHOIS returns unstructured text that varies between registrars, making parsing difficult. RDAP returns standardized JSON with defined schemas, ensuring consistent data across all registries and registrars.
RDAP supports proper Unicode for internationalized domain names (IDNs), provides differentiated access levels for authenticated users, and includes links to related resources. WHOIS has none of these capabilities.
Understanding RDAP Responses
An RDAP response includes: the domain handle and LDH (Letter-Digit-Hyphen) name, registration events (created, updated, expires, transferred), EPP status codes, nameserver references, DNSSEC information, and entity contacts (often redacted for privacy).
Status codes like "clientTransferProhibited" and "serverDeleteProhibited" indicate locks on the domain. Events provide a timeline of registration activity. The secureDNS section shows DNSSEC signing status.
Run a Free RDAP Lookup
Enter any domain above to retrieve its complete RDAP registration record. This tool queries the authoritative registry for the domain's TLD and returns the full JSON response with all available fields — registrar, events, status codes, nameservers, and DNSSEC data.
For a simplified view of registration data, try the WHOIS Lookup tool. To check DNS configuration, use the NS Lookup for nameservers or the DNS Lookup for a complete record overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RDAP and how is it different from WHOIS?
RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern replacement for WHOIS, standardized by the IETF in RFCs 7480–7484. While WHOIS returns unstructured text over plaintext port 43, RDAP provides structured JSON responses over HTTPS. RDAP offers consistent field names across all registries, proper Unicode support for internationalized domains, differentiated access levels, and machine-readable output that's easy to parse programmatically.
What information does an RDAP lookup return?
An RDAP lookup returns comprehensive domain registration data including: the registrar of record, registration and expiration dates, last update timestamp, EPP status codes (like clientTransferProhibited), nameserver delegation, DNSSEC signing information, and entity contacts. Contact details are often redacted for privacy compliance under GDPR and similar regulations.
Why should I use RDAP instead of WHOIS?
RDAP is more reliable, secure, and easier to work with than WHOIS. It uses HTTPS for encrypted queries, returns standardized JSON that's consistent across registries, supports internationalized domain names properly, and is actively maintained by ICANN and the IETF. Legacy WHOIS is being phased out by many registries in favor of RDAP.
What do the domain status codes in RDAP mean?
EPP status codes indicate a domain's current state. "clientTransferProhibited" means the registrar has locked transfers at the owner's request. "serverHold" means the registry has suspended the domain. "active" or "ok" indicates normal operation. "redemptionPeriod" means the domain expired and is in a recovery window. "pendingDelete" means it will soon be released for public registration.
Does RDAP show who owns a domain?
RDAP can include registrant contact information, but this data is often redacted for privacy. Since GDPR took effect in 2018, most registrars display "REDACTED FOR PRIVACY" or proxy contact details instead of the actual registrant's personal information. The registrar name and technical data (dates, status, nameservers) are always visible.