Domain lookup: How does it work? Published: 25 Nov, 2022
Domain lookup is the process of finding the physical address of a website from its IP address. The Domain Name System (DNS) is a database that contains the mapping of domain names to IP addresses.
When you type in a domain name, your computer will use DNS to look up the IP address of that domain and connect you to the website.
However, DNS can be used for more than just looking up IP addresses. It can also be used to find out information about a domain, such as who owns it, when it was created, and when it expires.
This information is stored in what is called DNS records. By doing a domain lookup, you can view all of the DNS records for a domain and get valuable information about it.
What is a domain lookup?
A domain lookup as just mentioned at the beginning of the paragraph above is a process of finding out a particular domain name if it's available and who owns it.
When you perform a domain lookup, you are essentially checking to see if the domain name you want is available.
This can be done by searching for the domain name on a WHOIS database. WHOIS is a public directory that lists contact information for all registered domains.
If the domain name you want is unavailable, you may be able to find an alternative by looking up similar domains on the WHOIS database.
How does a domain lookup work?
When you type a domain name into your web browser, the browser contacts a domain name server and requests the IP address for that domain.
The domain name server looks up the IP address in a DNS record and responds to the browser with the IP address. The browser then connects to the web server at that IP address and requests the website content.
Pros and cons of domain lookup
When you’re considering a new website, one of the first things you need to do is check if the domain name you want is available. This process is called a “domain lookup.”
A domain lookup will tell you if a website name is available as well as provide other important information such as how long the domain has been registered, who the registrar is, and when it expires.
There are a few different ways to do a domain lookup. One way is to use a Whois search tool like seotools-kit.com. Another way is to use a domain name checker like GoDaddy and others.
Once you have the results of your domain lookup, you can then decide if you want to register the domain name or not. If you do decide to register it, you can usually do so through the same company that did your lookup.
There are some pros and cons to doing a domain lookup before registering a domain name.
Pros:
-You can see if the domain name is available before spending any money
-A domain lookup will also provide other important information such as how long the domain has been registered, who the registrar is, and when it expires
-Doing a domain lookup ahead of time can save you time in the long run
-If someone else has already registered the domain name you want, doing a lookup can give you some ideas for alternative names that might be available
Cons:
-There is a small chance that the domain name you want might become unavailable by the time you finish your lookup
-If you don’t register the domain name right away, someone else may beat you to it.
-Domain lookups can be time-consuming.
How to use a domain lookup
When you perform a domain lookup, the first thing you need to do is enter the domain name into the search box. Once you have done this, the results will show up and you can select the registrar for your desired domain name.
If the domain is available, you can go ahead to register it right away if you want. If it is not available, you might be able to find out who owns the domain and contact them directly to inquire about purchasing it.
Alternatives to domain lookup
If you're not sure about a domain name, there are a few alternative options you can use to look it up.
One option is to use a whois service. Whois services allow you to look up information about a domain name, including the owner and contact information.
Another option is to use a web-based whois service. These services allow you to look up information about a domain name from your web browser.
If you're looking for more detailed information about a domain name, you can also use the Google search engine to do a WHOIS lookup. Simply enter the "whois" followed by the domain name into the search bar (without quotes).
Conclusion
Domain lookup is a simple process that allows you to find out information about a domain name. All you need to do is enter the domain name into a domain lookup tool and it will return information such as the owner of the domain, when it was registered, and when it expires. This information can be useful if you want to buy an expired domain name or if you want to see who owns a particular website.