ANIC handle (Network Information Centre handle) is a uniquealphanumeric character sequence that represents an entry in the databases maintained byNetwork Information Centres. When a newdomain name is registered with adomain name registrar, a NIC handle is assigned by the registrar to the particular set of information associated with that domain name (such as who registered it and a contact e-mail address). Once a domain name has been registered, its NIC handle can be used to search for that record in thedatabase.[1][2]
The NIC handle was developed in 1982 by Ken Harrenstien and Vic White working at the early Network Information Center atSRI International.[3]
The NIC Handle system is no longer commonly used by domain name registries. It was previously possible to queryWHOIS by NIC handle, and see all the domains registered by that NIC handle, but this service was discontinued (presumably due tospam).
NIC Handles are still used extensively in theRIPE Database to identify people and business roles.
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