Why Do You Need Domain Location?

There are many reasons why you might want to get the location of a specific domain name.

Looking at some e-commerce sites, you might wonder where they're based. By looking the site up using our domain location tool, you'll find the country and city in which the specific domain name is registered in.

The domain location tool also comes in handy if you want to get the specific location of a business. You can get accurate geolocation of any service you're interested in using the latitude and longitude coordinates provided by the domain location tool.

When looking at some online events, you might struggle to decipher the timezone the website uses to display the schedule. In such cases, our domain locator will prompt you with the specific timezone used, its DST offset, GMT offset, and the time zone's GMT, so you can make it to the event on time.

Some websites are specifically hosted to help spammers and hackers cause problems. With the help of our domain location tool, you can find detailed information about such websites and use it to report suspicious behavior to the authorities. Cybercrime bureaus and agencies often use domain locations to investigate cyber attacks and criminals.

How to Find the Geolocation of a Domain Name?

Finding the geolocation of a specific domain name is a very simple process with the help of our domain location tool. All you need to do is enter the specific address into the input field on the site, and the advanced algorithm will cross reference it to some of the most accurate databases we use. The user-friendly domain name is first translated into an IP address, which is then used at a complex query allowing our tool to provide you with accurate geolocation.

How Does Domain Location Work?

Our domain location tool translates the domain name you enter into its corresponding IP address. With the IP address in hand, the locator software can pull a large variety of data about the location of the website. However, there might be slight deviations, as finding the specific location of domain names using .com, .net, and .org can sometimes yield less accurate results.

The location finder is an algorithm that uses a geolocation database to provide accurate results. It looks for matches that correspond with the IP address in question. Third parties manage these databases and the information, so the precision depends on the provider operating the data set.

How is a domain name translated to a location?

There is no direct way to translate a domain name into a location. That's why our domain location tool initially translates the domain name into its corresponding IP address, which is later translated into a location. Here's how it's done:

Domain to IP

The DNS or domain name system is a naming database or register in which domain names are stored and translated into Internet protocol - IP addresses. The DNS maps the domain name to locate the IP address the computer uses to find the website.

When you type freenamemaker.com into your browser's address bar, the server maps the name to the corresponding IP address.

DNS is what web browsing and many Internet services rely on to get the necessary information to connect you to a remote host. It is distributed throughout the Internet using an authority hierarchy. Access providers, enterprises, governments, universities, and many other institutions have their assigned range of IP addresses and an assigned domain name.

Uniform Resource Locators or URLs are typically built around the domain name of the web server, taking client requests for the website or resource you need to access.

IP to location

There are many ways to find the location of an IP address. Pairing the IP with geolocation is the most popular and accurate option and also the one our domain location tool uses.

Pairing an IP address to a physical location involves mapping an IP address with its real-world geographic area using an online device. Geolocation maps IP addresses to the country, region, state, and city where they're registered. It also provides you with latitude and longitude coordinates.

Our domain locator will also provide you with the ISP or the Internet service provider responsible for keeping the website online. You can contact the Internet service provider if you ever need additional info about a specific domain name.

How Accurate Is the Domain Location Tool?

Our domain location tool will provide you with an approximate measure of geolocation accuracy. Using the tool delivered 95% to 99% accuracy at a country level, 55% to 80% precision at a region or state level, and 50% to 80% reliability at a city level.

For the most part, the accuracy of the geolocation you receive depends on the data provider. Our service strives to work with the most accurate geolocation databases, but 100% accuracy is still not supported by any providers managing such data.

You might not be able to get a street number and address, but the domain location tool will still provide you with important information.

How to Use the WHOIS Information Tool?

Performing a WHOIS lookup is now easier than ever with the help of our powerful WHOIS tool. To get the available WHOIS data, all you have to do is paste the domain name of the website you want to investigate and click 'GET WHOIS'.

After you click the button, you'll get a list of meta information referring to the specific website. It includes a domain name, registry domain ID, registrar WHOIS server, registrar URL, last updated date, creation date, registry expiry date, name server, etc.

The WHOIS tool will also prompt you with some suggestions for similar domain names, allowing you to explore other similar websites.

Per the ICANN regulation, you shouldn't use the WHOIS search tool through high-volume or automated electronic processes, except when it is reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify an existing registration.

Can the Geolocation be Wrong?

Several factors can result in misinformation and wrong geolocation. Since the first step in getting the geolocation is translating the domain name into an IP address, a few things can go wrong from the start. IP mapping may have been performed incorrectly, or perhaps the website holder uses a VPN to mask their IP.

The accuracy of the database information may also be compromised. If the database did a wrong data mapping, or the system manager doesn't update the information frequently, you can easily get the wrong location for the domain name you enter.

Another factor contributing to incorrect geolocation can be domain owners themselves. According to ICANN rules, you must provide and maintain a correct, current address. However, this information isn't always verified. Therefore, another reason why you might be supplied with the wrong address is that the domain owner didn't update it.

How to Fix a Wrong Geolocation?

If you suspect or have evidence that the domain location tool provided you with the wrong geolocation for a specific domain, you can report your claim and request a correction. Feel free to contact us with any concerns about the accuracy of the location we provide, and we'll promptly address your request.

Please note that it might take some time for our complaint to reach the database manager and for them to highlight the correction. The waiting times vary between providers. Usually, correcting takes a month to complete.

How to Get a Geolocation Database?

If you suspect or have evidence that the domain location tool provided you with the wrong geolocation for a specific domain, you can report your claim and request a correction. Feel free to contact us with any concerns about the accuracy of the location we provide, and we'll promptly address your request.

Please note that it might take some time for our complaint to reach the database manager and for them to highlight the correction. The waiting times vary between providers. Usually, correcting takes a month to complete.

How to Get a Geolocation Database?

To extend your search, there are several geolocation databases available for commercial use. All of these geolocation databases feature different accuracy ratios and various price plans. The most popular geolocation databases are IP2Location, IPgeolocation, IPinfo, IPligence, IP2C, DB-IP, and IP API. There are many other geolocation providers online, but currently, these are the most accurate ones.

Geolocation providers usually work with both free and paid plans. The more accurate ones typically require you to pay for the data you'll receive.

There are two ways for you to access the data from a geolocation address - direct downloads or APIs. If you aren't familiar with querying databases, you'll probably want to download the database and perform a manual search. You can query specific data using the server's application programming interface if you have some more advanced skills.

How Accurate is the WHOIS Data?

In the online world, change is inevitable. A large number of registrants change contact data every day. Domain owners are allowed to review and edit WHOIS domain data, making the results you get as reliable as possible. According to ICANN, the organization managing the WHOIS database, domain owners must provide valid and updated data, or they'll be faced with suspension or cancellation.

Therefore, the accuracy of the data acquired through a WHOIS query mostly depends on the domain owners. ICANN allows users to file complaints if they encounter incorrect or incomplete data while viewing the results of a WHOIS domain name lookup. In case of wrongful data, registrars are given a timeframe to correct and verify the data promptly. With such an opportunity, ICANN significantly contributes to a higher level of accuracy for all data stored in the WHOIS database.

Why are Some Entries hidden in the WHOIS domain lookup?

Some registrars offer their users privacy protection services, allowing them to mask some contact details in the search results in order to prevent spammers and scammers from getting their contact information.

If the owner of a domain name has purchased privacy protection services, some details may be hidden within the WHOIS lookup results. To provide data safety and privacy, some registrars proactively mask some contact information to comply with local data privacy protection laws and standards.

How to Update WHOIS Information?

With FreeNameMaker, updating your WHOIS contact information is now easier than ever. Following a few steps, you can update several data fields at once or choose to edit them one at a time.

Keeping your WHOIS information accurate and up to date is vital. With the strict ICANN regulations, you might face some suspensions. Updating your contact information is also mandatory, as you might miss out on some very important information if you don't provide the correct email address for the WHOIS correspondence.

Updated WHOIS information is also important for communicating with visitors or any other third parties interested in your website. If you keep the corresponding information updated, you'll always be available for anyone interested to contact your website or business.

Which Domains Can I Look Up Using the Tool?

Using our WHOIS search tool, you can explore the availability and ownership of a variety of different domains. You can use the tool to check domain names ending with .com, .net, and .edu.