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What Is An RDAP Domain Lookup

Introduction to RDAP

RDAP domain lookup is a secure and standardized way of accessing information about registered domain names and IP addresses, providing critical details for domain name owners, registrars, and other stakeholders to effectively manage their domains.

RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is a protocol that allows the public to retrieve information about registered domain names and IP addresses. This information is stored in a central database and can be accessed by authorized parties through a RESTful API.

Advantages over WHOIS

RDAP provides a more secure and standardized way of accessing domain information compared to WHOIS, the previous protocol used for this purpose. RDAP includes security measures such as authentication and authorization to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. See our dedicated article for more information.

How to perform an RDAP Lookup

To perform an RDAP lookup, one must use a client that supports the RDAP protocol and enter the desired domain name or IP address. The client will then send a request to the RDAP server, which will return the information stored in the database.

Information returned by RDAP

The information returned by an RDAP lookup includes the registrant’s name and contact information, registrar information, and other technical details such as nameservers and IP addresses. This information is critical for domain name owners, registrars, and other stakeholders, as it helps them to manage their domain names and ensure that they are properly registered and maintained.

Support from ICANN

RDAP is currently supported by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for overseeing the management of the internet’s domain name system. ICANN has encouraged all registrars and registries to adopt RDAP and transition away from WHOIS.

Conclusion

RDAP provides a more secure and standardized way of accessing information about registered domain names and IP addresses. It is essential for domain owners, registrars, and other stakeholders to understand the benefits of RDAP and adopt the protocol to manage their domain names effectively.