How to check domain name availability (the right way)

You found the perfect name, you type the address in your browser… and nothing loads. Is the domain free? Not necessarily. An empty page proves nothing: many domains are registered without a website.

Three levels of checking

1. DNS: a clue, not proof

If the domain answers in DNS, it is registered. But the reverse is not true: a domain without DNS may well belong to someone.

2. WHOIS and RDAP: the registration directory

RDAP is the modern successor to WHOIS: it asks the extension’s registry whether the domain exists. It is reliable for saying "taken", but some cases escape the directory: names reserved by the registry, premium names sold at a higher price, recently deleted names.

3. The registry: the only answer that counts

The question you really care about is: "can I buy it today, at the normal price?". Only an availability check with the registry (or a service connected to it) answers that question, telling apart free, taken, premium and reserved.

Why .com is still the reference

For an international brand, .com remains the extension customers type instinctively. If your market is local, a country extension (.co.uk, .fr…) may be enough, but secure both if you can.

What if the .com is taken?

• Add a short, consistent word (get, try, shop, app…): acceptable, but less memorable.
• Use another extension: best kept for local markets or industries where it is common (.io in tech, for instance).
• Buy the domain from its owner: possible, often expensive and slow.
• Look for a more distinctive name: often the best option.