RDAP, Registration Data Access Protocol, is the current standard for looking up publicly available domain registration data. It replaces the older WHOIS protocol as the underlying technology behind Registration Data Directory Services (RDDS).
If you have ever searched for who owns a domain name, it’s likely you have used RDDS. and as of January 2025, that lookup is powered by RDAP.
RDAP applies to ICANN-sponsored Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz. Country code domains (ccTLDs) operate their own directory services.
How is RDAP different from WHOIS?
WHOIS was the original protocol used to query domain registration data, in use since 1982. While it served the internet well for decades, it had significant limitations like inconsistent data formatting across registrars, no encryption, limited support for internationalized domain names, and minimal privacy controls.
In January 2025, ICANN formally phased out WHOIS obligations for all gTLD registries and registrars. WHOIS is no longer the required standard for gTLD domain lookups. The new standard is RDAP. RDAP was designed specifically to address WHOIS's shortcomings. It returns the same registration data but in a consistent, structured format with HTTPS support and built-in privacy controls.
For most customers the practical experience is unchanged. You look up a domain and see the registration data. RDAP simply does this more reliably and securely.
What data does RDAP return?
RDAP returns the same registration information as WHOIS, including:
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Domain name and registration status
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Registrar name and contact details
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Registration, expiry, and last updated dates
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Name server information
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Registrant and contact details. This subject to privacy redaction
As with WHOIS, personally identifiable information is routinely redacted from public results under ICANN's Registration Data Policy. For more on what is and isn't published, see Managing Your Registrant Organization: Publication and Privacy Settings.
How to look up domain data using RDAP
You can look up RDAP data for any gTLD domain directly through our 101domain tools:
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WHOIS Search: Use our WHOIS Search tool for a quick, human-friendly lookup of any domain's registration data.
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RDAP API: Query our RDAP server directly at
https://rdap.101domain.com/v1/domain/{domain}. Enter the domain name you want to check, for example: https://rdap.101domain.com/v1/domain/example.com.
This returns structured JSON results and is useful for programmatic lookups.
You can also use the ICANN Lookup Tool, a free public service that queries registration data from the relevant registry operator or registrar in real time.
If you have any questions, contact our Support Team at 877.983.6624 (US) or +1.760.444.8674 (International).