WHOIS

The WHOIS database is a searchable list of every single domain currently registered in the world.

ICANN (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names & Numbers) is the authorising body for Registrars. They require that all Registrars submit the following information per domain on its creation: Registrant’s Contact Details, the date of the Registration Date and the Expiry Date, as well as other information as requested by themselves. This information is then made available on the global registered domain name database called WHOIS.