A registration data lookup shows public information about any domain: when it was registered and when it expires, which registrar manages it, which nameservers it uses, and its status codes. It is the fastest way to check whether a transfer is possible, whether a domain is about to expire, or why a domain has stopped working.
WHOIS and RDAP
For years this information came from a service called WHOIS. Since 28 January 2025, generic domains such as .com, .net and .org use RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) as the official source instead. RDAP gives the same kind of information in a structured format. Many people still call it a WHOIS lookup, and many tools now use RDAP behind the scenes.
Method 1: ICANN Lookup (easiest)
- Go to lookup.icann.org.
- Type the domain name, for example
example.com, and click Lookup. - Read the results:
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Created / Registration date | When the domain was first registered. Transfers are blocked for 60 days after this date. |
| Expiration date | When the current registration period ends. The date is in UTC. |
| Updated date | The last time something changed, such as nameservers or contacts. |
| Registrar | The accredited registrar that manages the domain. For domains registered with FimuroHost, this is one of our registrar partners, not FimuroHost by name. |
| Domain status | EPP codes such as clientTransferProhibited. See Domain Status Codes Explained. |
| Nameservers | Where the domain's DNS is hosted. |
| Contacts | Often redacted for privacy. This is normal. |
Method 2: Command line
On macOS or Linux (and Windows with WSL), you can query RDAP with curl. For .com and .net:
curl -s https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/example.com
The result is JSON; look for "events" (registration, expiration) and "status". The classic whois command still works for many country-code domains:
whois example.io
To check only the nameservers that are live on the internet right now, use:
dig NS example.com +short
On Windows without extra tools: nslookup -type=NS example.com.
Checking your own domain in the client area
For domains registered with FimuroHost, the quickest place to check the expiry date is Domains → My Domains, which lists every domain with its expiry date and status. Use a public lookup when you want to confirm what the registry itself shows, for example after a renewal or transfer.
Why results can differ
- After a renewal, the new expiry date may take a few hours to appear in public lookups.
- Expiry dates can look a year ahead right after the expiry date passes, because some registries automatically extend the date while the registrar decides whether to renew. Trust your client area and invoices, not just this date.
- Nameservers in the lookup vs dig: the lookup shows what is registered;
digshows what resolvers currently see, which can lag behind after a change. - Country-code domains such as
.bdmay not be available in the ICANN tool; use the registry's own lookup.
Useful checks
- Before transferring: is the domain over 60 days old, not expired, and without
clientTransferProhibited? - Before pointing a domain: which nameservers does it currently use? See also How to Check Which Nameservers Your Domain Uses.
- Before buying a taken domain: when does it expire, and is it in redemption?
Need help?
If a lookup shows something you do not understand, open a support ticket from your client area (choose the Support department and include your domain name), or message us on WhatsApp at 01818160926. We are happy to check your domain for you.
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Written by
FimuroHost Team
Technical Writer