WHOIS

Domain lookup by TLD

Domain lookup across common TLDs

Different TLDs use different domain lookup protocols, with different access limits and data-publication rules. This article surveys common gTLDs and ccTLDs, describes their registry background, and links to real example lookups for hands-on testing.

What's the difference between a gTLD and a ccTLD?

TLDs split into two families. gTLDs (generic) such as .com, .net, .org, .io, .ai, .dev are governed centrally by ICANN; every gTLD must serve both RDAP and WHOIS, so lookup rules are consistent. ccTLDs (country code) such as .tw, .jp, .uk, .de, .cn, .hk are managed by national NICs and rules vary — most major ccTLDs serve RDAP but a few only serve legacy WHOIS. This site picks the right protocol automatically; you only enter the domain.

How do you look up a .tw domain? (TWNIC)

.tw is Taiwan's ccTLD, operated by TWNIC. A .tw domain lookup is available via the official WHOIS server (whois.twnic.net.tw) and RDAP (rdap.twnic.tw). The .tw namespace also includes .com.tw, .net.tw, .org.tw, .idv.tw with TWNIC-defined policies. In Taiwan, providers such as YuanJhen offer .tw domain registration alongside web hosting. Note that TWNIC redacts personal registrant fields on individual registrations such as .idv.tw, while corporate .com.tw registrations usually keep the organisation name visible.

How do you look up a .com / .net / .org domain?

.com and .net are managed by Verisign; .org is managed by PIR. All three serve RDAP (rdap.verisign.com, rdap.publicinterestregistry.org) and produce structured JSON. As of 2026, .com has roughly 164 million domains (out of about 390 million worldwide), .net about 12.4 million, and .org about 12 million. In a domain lookup for these TLDs, natural-person registrant fields are GDPR-masked, but lifecycle fields (registrar, expiry, nameservers) are always shown.

How do you look up the major ccTLDs? (.jp / .uk / .de / .cn / .hk)

.jp (JPRS) supports RDAP and categories like .jp, .co.jp, .or.jp. .uk (Nominet) supports RDAP with common .co.uk / .org.uk variants. .de (DENIC) is Europe's largest ccTLD with stricter access — some fields require a web form. .cn (CNNIC) only publishes verified registrant data. .hk (HKIRC) supports RDAP and accepts English/Chinese registrations. Privacy and disclosure policies differ by country, so review each ccTLD's rules before relying on the data.

How do you look up new TLDs? (.io / .ai / .dev / .app)

Modern TLDs from ICANN's 2012 expansion include .io (British Indian Ocean Territory, popular with tech brands), .ai (Anguilla, the AI-startup favourite), .dev, .app, .cloud, .tech and more. Each has its own registry but all enforce RDAP, so the domain lookup process matches .com. .io and .ai are pricier than .com thanks to brand demand (.io ~USD 35–60/yr; .ai is sold in 2-year minimum terms — about USD 150–220 up front, i.e. ~USD 75–110/yr). When inspecting these TLDs, double-check nameservers and DNSSEC — technical owners usually configure both carefully.

Domain lookup examples (try every TLD)

Click any example below to see a real domain lookup result

Type any domain you want to inspect

Back on the home page, enter a domain in any TLD and see the lookup result.

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TLD domain lookup FAQ

Which TLD should I choose?

If your audience is Taiwan, pick .com.tw (corporate) or .tw / .com (international). For global brands, .com remains the strongest. Tech startups favour .io, .ai, .dev; non-profits use .org. Run a domain lookup before registering to confirm availability.

Why don't some .tw lookups show a registrant?

TWNIC redacts personal data for .idv.tw and some second-level .tw registrations to align with ICANN's GDPR policy. Corporate .com.tw registrations usually keep the organisation name visible because corporate data is outside personal-data law.

Why are .ai and .io more expensive than .com?

Both are ccTLDs (.ai is Anguilla, .io is the British Indian Ocean Territory) with registry-set pricing. .ai prices surged with the AI boom and are billed in 2-year minimum terms — about USD 150–220 up front (~USD 75–110/yr); .io sits around USD 35–60/yr, still well above .com's USD 10–15 (approximate 2026 figures; actual pricing varies by registrar and renewal).

If a domain lookup shows the domain has expired, can I register it immediately?

No. Most gTLDs have a 30–45 day auto-renew grace period plus a 30-day redemption window — about 60–75 days total — before release. Re-check the lookup near expiry to time any registration attempt.

References and public data

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