WHOIS

A query and response protocol commonly used for querying databases storing registered users or assignees of internet resources. This includes information on the owners of a domain name, IP address block, or autonomous system. The response is delivered in a human-readable format, the current iteration of which was drafted by the Internet Society.

The records have played an essential role for organizations looking for a reliable resource for domain name registration and website ownership. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) regulates the database.