WHOIS

WHOIS (pronounced as the phrase "who is") is a query and response protocol that is used for querying databases that store an Internet resource's registered users or assignees. These resources include domain names, IP address blocks and autonomous systems, but it is also used for a wider range of other information. The protocol stores and delivers database content in a human-readable format.[1] The current iteration of the WHOIS protocol was drafted by the Internet Society, and is documented in RFC 3912.

Whois is also the name of the command-line utility on most UNIX systems used to make WHOIS protocol queries.[2] In addition, WHOIS has a sister protocol called Referral Whois (RWhois).

  1. ^ RFC 3912, WHOIS Protocol Specification, L. Daigle (September 2004)
  2. ^ "Whois(1) — whois — Debian stretch — Debian Manpages". Archived from the original on 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2020-12-27.