When searching for a domain name to buy, it can be risky to search for it directly through the domain name registrar you intend to buy it with (or any registrar). While there is no direct evidence, [GoDaddy is shady enough](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42849632&utm_term=comment) that I would believe they inflate the price or squat on domains that their customers have searched for. Even reputable registrars like Hover can change and do shady tactics like this. To avoid looking up through a registrar, simply run a whois in the Terminal to see if a domain is available: ```bash whois example.com ``` If you see "domain not found" or "no match for...", then the domain is available. You can also check the official [ICANN Registration Lookup tool](https://lookup.icann.org/en/lookup).