What is the purpose of a Whois query?

The purpose of a Whois query is to retrieve information about domain owners. When you conduct a Whois lookup, you are accessing a database that contains records of domain names and their corresponding registrant information. This typically includes details such as the name, address, email, and phone number of the individual or organization that registered the domain. Whois queries are essential for various reasons, such as verifying domain ownership, conducting research on competitors, or identifying potential security threats associated with a domain. This functionality plays a crucial role in cybersecurity, as it can help ethical hackers and security professionals understand who is behind a particular domain and assess potential risks.