How to Check a Domain Before Buying Using RDAP

Before purchasing a domain, it is essential to verify its registration details, including its creation date, status, registrar, and the owner's contact information (if available). The Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) provides a modern and structured way to access domain registration information, offering key insights into the domain's history and ownership. This article explores how to check a domain before buying it using RDAP and highlights what to look for in the RDAP response.

Understanding the RDAP Response

When you query RDAP for a domain, you receive a JSON response containing important details about the domain's registration. The RDAP response is structured, making it easy to extract key pieces of information such as the domain's creation date, its current status, registrar details, and owner contact information. Let's break down the most important fields to look for when evaluating a domain.

Creation Date

One of the first things you should check is the creation date of the domain. This tells you when the domain was first registered, providing insights into its age. Older domains can sometimes be more valuable due to their history, while very new domains may have a higher risk of being associated with spam or other less desirable activities.

Example of Creation Date in RDAP Response:


"events": [
  {
    "eventAction": "registration",
    "eventDate": "2015-08-25T00:00:00Z"
  }
]

In the example above, the domain was registered on August 25, 2015. You should look for the eventAction field, which will usually include "registration", and check the associated eventDate for the registration date.

Status

The status of the domain is another critical piece of information. The status tells you whether the domain is active, expired, or locked. Understanding the status can help you assess whether the domain is currently available for purchase, whether there are restrictions on transferring it, or if it has been locked by the registrar.

Example of Status in RDAP Response:


"status": ["active"]

The status field can contain various values, such as:

Registrar Information

The registrar field provides information about the entity that manages the domain's registration. This can be important if you want to verify the domain's legitimacy or if you need to contact the registrar for further assistance with transferring or renewing the domain.

Example of Registrar in RDAP Response:


"entities": [
  {
    "objectClassName": "entity",
    "handle": "REGISTRAR-XYZ",
    "roles": ["registrar"],
    "vcardArray": [
      "vcard",
      [
        ["fn", "Registrar XYZ"],
        ["email", "[email protected]"]
      ]
    ]
  }
]

In this example, the domain is registered with Registrar XYZ, and you can contact them at [email protected]. If you're looking to transfer the domain or inquire about its availability, knowing the registrar is essential.

Finding Owner Contacts (If Not Hidden)

One of the key benefits of checking a domain via RDAP is the ability to find the contact information of the domain owner, provided that the information is not hidden behind privacy protection services. If the domain owner has not opted for privacy protection, RDAP will return the owner's contact details, including their email address, phone number, and physical address.

Owner Contact Information

The contact information for the domain owner (registrant) is typically included in the RDAP response under the entities field. The vcardArray element contains the owner's personal details in a standardized format, often including their email address.

Example of Owner Contact Information in RDAP Response:


"entities": [
  {
    "objectClassName": "entity",
    "handle": "OWNER-123",
    "roles": ["registrant"],
    "vcardArray": [
      "vcard",
      [
        ["fn", "John Doe"],
        ["email", "[email protected]"],
        ["tel", "+1-555-1234"],
        ["adr", "123 Main St, Anytown, USA"]
      ]
    ]
  }
]

In this example, the registrant's name is John Doe, with the email address [email protected], phone number +1-555-1234, and physical address 123 Main St, Anytown, USA. If this information is not protected, you can reach out to the owner directly.

Privacy Protection

Many domain owners choose to protect their contact information by using a privacy protection service (often provided by registrars). In such cases, the owner’s contact details will not be publicly available through RDAP. Instead, you may see the contact information of the registrar’s privacy service.

Example of Privacy Protected Contact in RDAP Response:


"entities": [
  {
    "objectClassName": "entity",
    "handle": "PRIVACY-PROTECTED",
    "roles": ["registrant"],
    "vcardArray": [
      "vcard",
      [
        ["fn", "Privacy Protected"],
        ["email", "[email protected]"]
      ]
    ]
  }
]

In this case, the domain owner’s contact information is not available, and you would need to contact the registrar (e.g., [email protected]) for further assistance.

Other Key Factors to Check Before Buying a Domain

Besides checking the creation date, status, registrar, and owner contact information, there are a few other important factors to consider when evaluating a domain for purchase:

Verifying all aspects of a domain before purchasing it can save you time, money, and potential legal troubles. RDAP provides a reliable and structured method to access critical domain registration data, allowing you to make an informed decision before finalizing your purchase.