OWH Domain WHOIS RDAP

Description

OWH Domain WHOIS RDAP is a powerful and modern WordPress plugin that enables domain availability checking using exclusively the RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), abandoning legacy WHOIS protocol. The plugin provides a complete domain verification experience with an intuitive interface, advanced Gutenberg blocks, and detailed WHOIS/RDAP information.

Why Choose OWH Domain WHOIS RDAP?

  • Modern RDAP Protocol: Uses only RDAP (JSON) for faster and more accurate queries
  • Official TLD Validation: Validates domain extensions using IANA’s official list (data.iana.org/rdap/dns.json)
  • Real-Time Validation: Real-time domain validation with TLD pre-verification
  • Multiple TLD Support: Compatible with hundreds of official domain extensions

How It Works

  1. Domain Input: Users enter domain name in the search form
  2. TLD Validation: Plugin validates the domain extension against IANA’s official list
  3. RDAP Query: If valid, performs RDAP query to appropriate server
  4. Result Display: Shows availability status with detailed information

Perfect For

  • Web Hosting Companies: Domain search functionality for hosting services
  • Domain Registrars: Integration with domain registration systems
  • Web Agencies: Client domain availability checking
  • Developers: Modern RDAP implementation for domain services
  • IT Professionals: Reliable domain information gathering

Technical Highlights

  • RDAP Protocol: Modern replacement for legacy WHOIS (port 43)
  • JSON Responses: Structured, machine-readable domain data
  • IANA Integration: Official TLD list synchronization
  • Clean Architecture: PSR-4 compliant with dependency injection

Configuration

Initial Setup

  1. Navigate to OWH RDAP Settings
  2. Enable Domain Search option
  3. Set your Search Results Page (create a page with [owh-rdap-whois-results] shortcode)
  4. Set your WHOIS Details Page (create a page with [owh-rdap-whois-details] shortcode)
  5. Save settings

Page Setup

  1. Search Page: Add the shortcode [owh-rdap-whois-search] to any page
  2. Results Page: Create a page with [owh-rdap-whois-results] shortcode
  3. Details Page: Create a page with [owh-rdap-whois-details] shortcode

Gutenberg Block Setup

  1. Edit any page or post with Gutenberg editor
  2. Add a new block and search for “RDAP Domain Search Enhanced”
  3. Configure visual options:
    • Colors (text, background, button)
    • Typography (font size)
    • Borders (radius, width, color)
    • Layout (standard or inline)
    • Custom CSS

External Services

This plugin connects to external services to obtain domain information and TLD validation data. These services are essential for providing accurate domain availability information and ensuring proper domain validation.

IANA RDAP DNS Bootstrap Service

  • What the service is: IANA RDAP DNS Bootstrap Service (https://data.iana.org/rdap/dns.json) – The official Internet Assigned Numbers Authority service for RDAP server discovery
  • What it is used for: Primary source for obtaining the official list of TLD (Top Level Domains) and their corresponding RDAP servers
  • What data is sent: No personal data is sent. The plugin downloads the public DNS bootstrap file containing TLD-to-RDAP-server mappings
  • When data is sent: During TLD list updates (manual or automatic) and when validating domain extensions

RDAP Servers (Various Domain Registries)

  • What the service is: Various RDAP servers operated by domain registries and registrars worldwide (e.g., Verisign for .com/.net, PIR for .org, etc.)
  • What it is used for: Querying domain registration information and availability status using the RDAP protocol
  • What data is sent: Only the domain name being queried (e.g., “example.com”). No personal or sensitive information is transmitted
  • When data is sent: When users perform domain availability searches through the plugin interface

Important Notes:
– Domain queries are cached locally to improve performance and reduce external service requests
– No personal, private, or sensitive data is transmitted to these services
– Only domain names and TLD information are sent for legitimate domain availability checking
– All communications use secure HTTPS connections
– The plugin respects rate limiting and best practices for RDAP queries
– If external services are unavailable, the plugin uses cached TLD data and provides appropriate error messages

Support

For technical support, feature requests, or bug reports:

Transform your website into a professional domain checking service with OWH Domain WHOIS RDAP today!

Blocks

This plugin provides 3 blocks.

  • RDAP – Pesquisa de Domínios
  • RDAP – Resultados de Domínios
  • RDAP – Detalhes WHOIS

Installation

1. Using WordPress Admin Dashboard (Recommended)

  1. Navigate to Plugins Add New
  2. Click Upload Plugin and select the plugin ZIP file
  3. Click Install Now and then Activate
  4. Go to OWH RDAP Settings to configure

2. Manual Installation via FTP

  1. Extract the plugin ZIP file
  2. Upload the extracted folder to wp-content/plugins/
  3. Activate the plugin in Plugins dashboard

3. WP-CLI Installation

`bash

wp plugin activate owh-domain-whois-rdap
`

FAQ

What is RDAP and why is it better than WHOIS?

RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern replacement for the legacy WHOIS protocol. It provides structured JSON responses instead of plain text, offers better security, supports internationalization, and is the official standard recommended by ICANN.

Which domain extensions (TLDs) are supported?

The plugin supports all TLDs that have RDAP servers according to IANA’s official registry. This includes hundreds of extensions like .com, .org, .net, .br, .uk, and many more. The list is automatically updated from IANA’s official source.

Can I customize the appearance of the search form?

Yes! The plugin includes advanced Gutenberg blocks with visual customization options including colors, typography, borders, and custom CSS. You can also use CSS to further customize the appearance.

How does the caching system work?

The plugin includes configurable caching for both available and unavailable domains. You can set different cache times in the settings. This improves performance and reduces load on RDAP servers.

Is the plugin compatible with hosting providers’ domain systems?

The plugin provides domain availability information. For actual domain registration, you can configure custom URLs or integrate with systems like WHMCS through the plugin settings.

What happens if an RDAP server is unavailable?

The plugin includes error handling and will display appropriate messages if RDAP servers are unavailable. Cached results may still be available depending on your cache settings.

Can I use multiple search forms on the same site?

Yes, you can use the shortcode [owh-rdap-whois-search] on multiple pages or use the Gutenberg block wherever needed.

Does it work with custom domains and subdomains?

The plugin validates domains against IANA’s official TLD list and supports standard domain formats. Custom private TLDs may not be supported unless they appear in the official IANA registry.

Is technical support available?

Yes! Visit our support page or create a GitHub issue for assistance.

Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

Contributors & Developers

“OWH Domain WHOIS RDAP” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

Changelog

1.2.5 – 2026/04/16

  • Change tags.

1.2.4 – 2026/04/16

  • Fix plugin checker errors.

1.2.3 – 2026/04/16

  • Fix plugin checker errors.

1.2.2 – 2026/04/16

  • Fix plugin checker errors.

1.2.1 – 2026/01/27

  • Add alert informing that results page needs to be configured;
  • Fix WordPress issues.

1.2.0 – 2026/01/27

  • Added configuration to add subdomains;
  • Added button to update TLDs.

1.1.1 – 2026/01/22

  • Fix wordpress issues.

1.1.0 – 2026/01/22

  • Added advanced Gutenberg blocks integration
  • Enhanced visual customization options
  • Improved block editor experience
  • Added custom CSS support for blocks

1.0.0 – 2026/01/15

  • Initial plugin release
  • RDAP protocol implementation
  • IANA TLD validation system
  • Smart caching system
  • Shortcode support for search, results, and details
  • Admin settings interface
  • Performance optimization