What Is the Domain Name Registry?

The domain name registry is also the WhoIs database. It contains records of all the domain names registered to date. One can search this directory for any domain name to see if it is registered. If it is registered, all relevant contact and technical information will be shown. It’s a sort of yellow pages directory for internet addresses.

In the domain name registry, the following information is displayed:

• Domain Name
• Registrant
• Administrative Contact
• Technical Contact
• Registrar
• Who Is Server
• Referral URL
• Name Servers
• Status
• Updated Date
• Creation Date
• Expiration Date

All of this information is made available to the public. This gives others and opportunity to contact the owner of the domain if they must. People may need to contact the owner, because they may want to purchase the domain name from the owner. Someone who owns intellectual property may see their properly being illegally used on a website. They can use the domain name registry to contact the person about that issue. There are plenty of other valid reasons that the domain name registry is available for public viewing. However, if a domain owner wishes to keep his personal information private, he may do so. The registrar will assign an alternate email address to the domain owner’s registry information. That way the owner can be contacted without revealing his private email address.