I am sure you already looked at some web pages promising free Whois API checks, and you can do it in Python. I suppose that’s an OK solution for a quick project. But I am not sure it’s the right long-term solution. Aren’t you tired of reading a git page that was last updated in 2016? Is that the whois API Python solution you are looking for? Can you really build a stable application or even a domain checker that’s working properly on a stranger’s 0.8.0 version?
Sure, it’s working now, but what about in a year? Three years? Well, our Whois API, you can check in Python, has been around longer than a decade. We also support Ruby, PHP, and other popular programming languages.
Whois API in Python
Let’s return to our hero Python. As I just mentioned, we’ve created Whois API code example for Python and for several popular programming languages. For a complete list of code examples and programming languages open this page. Here, we are going to highlight the Whois API for Python. How do you check a whois record with an API in Python? Here’s an example. We’re going to use our Whois API to get whois information for the domain name “whoapi.com.”
At the end of this article, you can find the programming code in Python that connects you to our Whois API. If you want to jump down, you can use the table of contents on the right.
Whois API in Python code example
As you can see, you will need an API key in order to make API requests. You can get an API key when you register. Registration is free, and you just need a valid email address. If you need more requests for your tests before you put the application into production and live environment, you can get up to 10,000 API requests for free. This is a one-time gift for new users, and it does not replenish (refill) each month. You will have to upgrade to a paid solution after you use all the free requests.
Why work with a Whois API
We already wrote extensively about what you could build with a good Whois API. And we also highlighted the difference in outputs. We provide Whois JSON and Whois XML. Both work well when you access a Whois API with your Python programming code. Our Whois API is a Restful API. It’s a web API. You just make an HTTP (or, even better, an HTTPS) request, and you will get a response in JSON. If you are still not sure how to use a Whois API, you can always check our API documentation and consult our status codes.
API console
If you are not ready to make your first Whois API call with Python, here’s an idea. Log in to our console, and just enter the domain name you want to check. There you can see if the Whois API is working. You will get a response in JSON, and you will know what to expect on the other side.
Why Python for a Whois API project?
Python is considered an excellent programming language for several reasons:
Readability and Simplicity
Python emphasizes code readability and uses clean and straightforward syntax. Its indentation-based block structure makes it easy to understand and maintain, even for beginners. Python’s simplicity allows developers to express concepts and ideas concisely and readably.
Versatility and Flexibility
Python is a universal language that has a wide range of applications. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming. Python is a good choice for web development, scientific computing, data analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, scripting, and more.
Extensive Standard Library and Ecosystem
Python has a vast standard library that provides various modules and functions for multiple tasks, such as file I/O, networking, web services, and more. Additionally, Python has a rich ecosystem of third-party libraries and frameworks, such as NumPy, Pandas, Django, Flask, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, which extend its capabilities and enable developers to build complex applications efficiently.
Strong Community and Support
Python has a vibrant and active community of developers who contribute to its growth and provide support through forums, online communities, and resources. Python’s community-driven nature ensures abundant learning materials, tutorials, and documentation are available. A strong community makes it easier for developers to find solutions to problems, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Python is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and UNIX systems. This cross-platform compatibility allows developers to write code on one platform and run it on another without significant modifications, making Python highly portable.
Rapid Development and Prototyping
Python’s simplicity and ease of use make it suitable for rapid application development and prototyping. The language provides high-level data structures and dynamic typing, allowing developers to iterate quickly and efficiently. Various frameworks make Python an excellent choice for startups, research projects, and scenarios where time-to-market is crucial.
Integration and Extensibility
A programmer can easily integrate Python with other languages like C, C++, and Java. It provides interfaces to numerous external libraries and systems, making it suitable for building large-scale applications that require integration with existing infrastructure.
Programming with Python – Whois API (Photo by Micheal Ogungbe)
Overall, Python is a great programming language because it is easy to learn and use. It has a simple syntax which makes it easy for beginners to understand. Python is also versatile and can be used for a variety of tasks, such as web development, data analysis, and machine learning. Its large community of developers also means that there are many resources available for learning and problem-solving. Additionally, Python is known for its readability and maintainability, making it a popular choice for large-scale projects. Python is a powerful and popular programming language that is a great choice for both beginners and experienced programmers.
Conclusion
Firstly, in this article, I wrote from experience by listing some disadvantages of using old code from public resources and how that might impact your project. I also listed the advantages of using Python and Whois API. You now also have the exact Python programming code to make Whois lookups with an API request.
Whois API in Python programming code example
#!/usr/bin/env python
import requests
def whoapi_request(domain, r, apikey) -> None:
res = requests.get('https://api.whoapi.com', dict(
domain=domain,
r=r,
apikey=apikey))
if res.status_code == 200:
data = res.json()
if int(data['status']) == 0:
print("Success. Domain was created: " + data['date_created'])
else:
print("API reports error: " + data['status_desc'])
else:
raise Exception('Unexpected status code %d' % res.status_code)
domain = 'whoapi.com' # domain to check
r = 'whois' # request type
apikey = 'demokey' # key
whoapi_request(domain, r, apikey)
