A domain in the context of the internet refers to a website's address or name that people use to access it, such as "example.com." A domain owner is the individual or organization that has registered that domain name through a domain registrar. The term "WHOIS" relates to a protocol and database that allows anyone to look up the registration details of a domain name. This includes information about the domain owner (registrant), the domain's registration and expiration dates, and the registrar managing the domain. WHOIS records serve administrative, legal, and technical purposes by providing contact information and accountability for domain ownership.
In summary:
- A domain is a web address.
- The domain owner is the person or entity who legally registered the domain.
- WHOIS is a public database where you can find this ownership and registration information.
This system is crucial for transparency, dispute resolution, and communication related to domain names on the internet.
