What Is Registration Data Policy? Domain Glossary

Why it matters

For most owners, this policy is why WHOIS and RDAP lookups often show REDACTED instead of a name and email. It also lets owners add an organization name that may be published. For buyers, this makes finding the owner harder, so brokers and contact forms matter more. A common mistake is treating redacted data as proof that a domain is abandoned. The owner is simply private. Use the registrar's relay contact or a broker to reach them.

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 Access Protocol (RDAP): RDAP is the internet standard for looking up domain registration data, such as registrar, status, and key dates. It was created to replace the older WHOIS protocol with structured, secure, and more controlled access.
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.
Privacy / proxy service: A privacy or proxy service hides a domain owner's personal contact details in public lookups. A privacy service shows masked data, while a proxy service lists the provider as the registrant and licenses the name to the customer.
Registrant: A registrant is the person or organization listed as the holder of a domain name registration. The registrant holds the right to use the name and is responsible for renewals and accurate contact details.

All 205 terms

Why it matters

Where we use this term

Buying or selling a domain?