Overview
Whois Lookup works by querying the WHOIS database to retrieve the registration data of a domain name. It returns the domain owner's name, contact information, domain registrar, and more in a structured format.
Endpoint
One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.
curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/whoislookup?domain=myspace.com" \
-H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/whoislookup?domain=myspace.com', {
headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);
const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);import requests
res = requests.get(
"https://api.apiverve.com/v1/whoislookup?domain=myspace.com",
headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json()["data"])package main
import (
"fmt"
"io"
"net/http"
)
func main() {
req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/whoislookup?domain=myspace.com", nil)
req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")
res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
defer res.Body.Close()
out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
fmt.Println(string(out))
}Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.
Authentication
Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.
A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.
Parameters
Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
domainRequired | string | The domain name for which you want to get the registration data (e.g., myspace.com) domain |
Response
Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.
{
"status": "ok",
"error": null,
"data": {
"domainName": "MYSPACE.COM",
"registryDomainID": "3877095_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN",
"createdDate": "1996-02-22T05:00:00Z",
"expiryDate": "2029-02-23T05:00:00Z",
"updatedDate": "2023-01-17T00:16:21Z",
"domainStatus": [
"client delete prohibited https://icann.org/epp#client delete prohibited",
"client renew prohibited https://icann.org/epp#client renew prohibited",
"client transfer prohibited https://icann.org/epp#client transfer prohibited",
"client update prohibited https://icann.org/epp#client update prohibited"
],
"dNSSEC": "unsigned",
"registrar": "GoDaddy.com, LLC",
"registrarIANAID": "146",
"registrarURL": "http://www.godaddy.com",
"registrarAbuseContactEmail": "abuse@godaddy.com",
"registrarAbuseContactPhone": "tel:480-624-2505",
"nameServers": [
"ns-cloud-a2.googledomains.com",
"ns-cloud-a3.googledomains.com",
"ns-cloud-a4.googledomains.com",
"ns-cloud-a1.googledomains.com"
],
"domain": "myspace.com",
"fetchedAtUTC": "2025-12-17T01:54:05.069Z",
"tld": "com",
"status": "active",
"domainAgeDays": 11094,
"domainAgeYears": 30.4,
"isRecentlyRegistered": false,
"trustScore": 93,
"trustLevel": "high"
}
}Response fields
Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.
| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
domainName | string | "MYSPACE.COM" | The domain name in uppercase format |
registryDomainIDPremium | string | "3877095_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN" | Unique registry identifier for the domain |
createdDate | string | "1996-02-22T05:00:00Z" | Domain creation date in ISO 8601 format |
expiryDate | string | "2029-02-23T05:00:00Z" | Domain expiration date in ISO 8601 format |
updatedDate | string | "2023-01-17T00:16:21Z" | Domain last updated date in ISO 8601 format |
domainStatus | array | [client delete prohibited https://icann.org/epp#client delete prohibited, ...] | Array of domain status flags with EPP codes |
dNSSECPremium | string | "unsigned" | DNSSEC status (signed or unsigned) |
registrar | string | "GoDaddy.com, LLC" | Domain registrar company name |
registrarIANAIDPremium | string | "146" | Registrar's IANA ID number |
registrarURL | string | "http://www.godaddy.com" | Registrar's website URL |
registrarAbuseContactEmailPremium | string | "abuse@godaddy.com" | Registrar abuse contact email address |
registrarAbuseContactPhonePremium | string | "tel:480-624-2505" | Registrar abuse contact phone number |
nameServers | array | [ns-cloud-a2.googledomains.com, ...] | Array of authoritative nameserver hostnames |
domain | string | "myspace.com" | Domain name in lowercase format |
fetchedAtUTCPremium | string | "2025-12-17T01:54:05.069Z" | Timestamp when WHOIS data was retrieved |
tld | string | "com" | Top-level domain extension |
status | string | "active" | Current domain registration status |
domainAgeDays | number | 11094 | Age of the domain in days, derived from the creation date |
domainAgeYears | number | 30.4 | Age of the domain in years (one decimal), derived from the creation date |
isRecentlyRegisteredPremium | boolean | false | Whether the domain was registered within the last 90 days — a common fraud/phishing signal |
trustScorePremium | number | 93 | 0-100 trust score derived from domain age, registration recency, expiry runway and DNSSEC |
trustLevelPremium | string | "high" | Categorical trust level (low, medium, high) derived from the trust score |
Errors
Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
400 | Input was rejected | Read error; it names the parameter. |
401 | Key missing or invalid | Check the header name and the key value. |
403 | Key valid, but not permitted | A key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping. |
429 | Rate limited, or out of credits | Read error to tell them apart; see rate limits. |
Use cases
- Domain Management
- Use the Whois Lookup API to check domain registration data for domain management. Use the data to verify ownership, update contact information, and renew domains
- Cybersecurity
- Enhance cybersecurity by using the Whois Lookup API to check domain registration data. Use the data to identify suspicious domains, prevent fraud, and protect against cyber threats
- Brand Protection
- Protect your brand by using the Whois Lookup API to check domain registration data. Use the data to monitor domain registrations, detect trademark infringements, and enforce brand rights
- Legal Compliance
- Ensure legal compliance by using the Whois Lookup API to check domain registration data. Use the data to investigate domain disputes, resolve ownership issues, and comply with regulations
Other ways to use WHOIS Lookup
Set up WHOIS Lookup on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
Related
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