You need to enable JavaScript to use the communication tool powered by OpenWidget

What Is RDAP?

RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is a modern protocol for accessing registration data for domains, IP addresses, and autonomous system numbers. RDAP is considered a newer alternative to WHOIS and is used to retrieve structured information about a domain, such as status, dates, nameservers, registrar details, and related contacts/entities (when available under zone policies).

In simple terms, RDAP is a “modern WHOIS” with a more standardized and developer-friendly format. Unlike traditional WHOIS, RDAP often returns structured responses (usually JSON), making it easier to automate, integrate into APIs, and process in domain lookup tools and services.

Popular Questions About RDAP

  • What is RDAP in simple words?

    RDAP is a modern domain lookup protocol and service used to retrieve registration data. It provides domain information in a more structured format than traditional WHOIS.

  • How is RDAP different from WHOIS?

    WHOIS often returns unstructured text that can vary by domain zone. RDAP uses a more modern approach: standardized responses (usually JSON), links to related objects, better machine readability, and easier data handling for automation.

  • What information can I get from RDAP?

    RDAP commonly provides domain status, registration and expiration/update dates, nameservers, registrar details, domain events, and related entities (contacts), when those details are not hidden by privacy policies or specific registry rules.