What Is RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol)?

Why it matters

Since 28 January 2025, ICANN no longer requires gTLD registries and registrars to provide WHOIS, except for .com, .name, and .post. RDAP is now the main lookup path. For buyers, it shows the registrar, creation date, expiry date, and status codes of a domain. Most owner details are redacted for privacy, so do not expect to find a name and email. Common mistake: treating a blank owner field as proof the domain is abandoned. Use a broker or the registrar's contact relay to reach the owner.

Source: icann.org

Where we use this term

How to Buy a Domain Name That Someone Already Owns

Related terms

WHOIS: The older public lookup system for domain registration data, such as the registrar, dates and contacts. Many fields are now hidden for privacy, and ICANN now points users to RDAP-based lookup tools.
Registration Data Policy: The Registration Data Policy is an ICANN rule for how registrars and registries collect, transfer, publish and redact domain registration data. It took effect on August 21, 2025.
GDPR redaction: The hiding of personal details, such as a registrant's name, email and phone, from public domain registration records. Registries and registrars began doing this in 2018 to follow European privacy law.
Registrar: A registrar is a company that sells domain registrations to the public. It checks that a name is available, sends the registration to the registry, collects owner details and lets the owner manage settings afterward.
EPP status codes (EPP): EPP status codes are labels set on a domain by its registrar or registry. They show whether the domain can be transferred, changed, renewed, or deleted, and they are visible in lookups.

All 205 terms

Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP)

Why it matters

Where we use this term

Buying or selling a domain?