Domain Intelligence API

What is the Domain Intelligence API?

The Domain Intelligence API addresses a critical business challenge: identifying the legal entity that operates a domain or email address. This extends beyond basic domain registration data to determine the actual business entity behind websites, email domains, and digital presence.

The Business Challenge

Enterprises frequently encounter emails, websites, or domains where they need to identify the operating company. This presents significant complexity—determining not just the company name displayed on a website, but the actual legal entity that operates the domain.

Key Features

Input flexibility: Domain, website URL, or email address (all parsed to domain)
Dual-layer output: Domain-specific intelligence + operating legal entity
Entity integration: Returns entity IDs that work with Business Intelligence API
Real-time research: Async polling API for comprehensive analysis
Smart results: Returns entity or candidate results based on confidence

Learn more:

Business Intelligence API

Entities and Candidates

Domain + Entity Resolution Combined

Our approach combines two distinct but related analyses to give you complete intelligence:

1. Domain Intelligence Layer

Analyzes the domain itself as a business entity:

Domain purpose: What the specific domain/website does
Domain classification: Industry codes specific to the domain's focus
Business model: How this domain generates value
Products/services: Specific to what's offered on this domain

2. Legal Entity Resolution Layer

Identifies the operating legal entity:

Entity identification: The actual company that operates the domain
Entity verification: Government identifier confirmation
Entity vs candidate: Returns verified entity ID or candidate information

Example: `office.com`

Domain layer: Microsoft Office productivity software platform
Entity layer: Microsoft Corporation (the legal entity)

Why both layers matter: The domain might focus on one product line while being operated by a much larger parent company. You get intelligence about both the domain's specific purpose and the legal entity behind it.

Real-Time Domain Research

Domain intelligence combines web analysis with entity resolution, optimized for accuracy over speed.

Performance Characteristics

Cached domains: Near-instant response (seconds)
New domains: 2-5 minutes for comprehensive analysis
Complex domains: May require additional time for entity verification

Status Lifecycle

building - Initial domain analysis and entity resolution in progress
complete - Both domain intelligence and entity data ready
refreshing - Current data available while background refresh occurs
failed - Analysis could not complete

Input Flexibility

All of these inputs work seamlessly:

apple.com                    → Domain analysis
https://www.apple.com        → Website URL  
contact@apple.com            → Email address

All inputs are automatically parsed to the domain for analysis.

Polling recommendation: Check status every 5-10 seconds until complete.

What Data You Get

The API returns comprehensive intelligence across two dimensions:

Domain-Specific Intelligence

Information about the domain itself:

Domain description: What this specific domain/website does
Industry classification: NAICS codes specific to domain activities
Business model: Revenue model for domain activities
Products/services: Specific offerings promoted on domain
Domain context: Type, purpose, and business relevance
Domain aliases: Related domains under same control
Website status: Technical accessibility and content verification

Operating Entity Information

Details about the legal entity:

Entity data: Company name, status, headquarters
Entity ID: For use with Business Intelligence API (if entity, not candidate)
Legal entity details: Government identifiers and jurisdiction
Corporate structure: Parent entity information (if available)
Confidence factors: Explainability data showing why entity was matched

Learn more: Confidence and Explainability

Understanding Your Results

Domain Intelligence can return either a verified entity or a candidate, depending on confidence level:

Entity Results (High Confidence)

Returns stable entity ID usable with Business Intelligence API

Learn more: Identifiers

Backed by government identifiers
High confidence in legal entity identification
Full domain intelligence data available

Candidate Results (Lower Confidence)

No entity ID provided (entity types we don't support yet, or insufficient confidence)
Best-guess information about operating entity
Domain intelligence still provided
See entities vs candidates for full explanation

Learn more: Entities and Candidates

Current entity type support: Incorporated businesses (companies, corporations, LLCs)

Roadmap: Sole proprietorships, government entities, nonprofits

Example Response

Here's a sample response for apple.com showing the complete data structure:

{
    "domain": "apple.com",
    "status": "complete",
    "data": {
        "status": "matched",
        "confidence": 98,
        "type": "business",
        "subtype": "incorporated_entity",
        "entity": {
            "id": "siq_2ZUKocPbFCPLClZ5XtHlJ",
            "name": "Apple",
            "status": "active",
            "description": "Apple Inc. is a multinational technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. It is known for its innovative products and a strong brand reputation. The company operates through various segments, offering a range of hardware, software, and services to a global customer base.",
            "headquarters": {
                "address": "ONE APPLE PARK WAY",
                "city": "Cupertino",
                "state": "California",
                "country": "United States",
                "state_code": "CA",
                "country_code": "US"
            },
            "website": "https://www.apple.com/",
            "primary_legal_entity": {
                "id": "le_2ZoRp6I3EUgebkUBHaDdk",
                "name": "APPLE INC.",
                "country_code": "US",
                "state_code": null,
                "jurisdiction": "California"
            },
            "parent_entity": {
                "name": null
            },
            "matching_branch": null
        },
        "candidate": null,
        "factors": [
            {
                "code": "legal_entity_confirmed_on_website",
                "type": "strength",
                "impact": "Provides direct and authoritative confirmation of the legal entity operating the domain.",
                "description": "The domain 'apple.com' explicitly identifies 'Apple Inc.' in its legal notices, terms of service, and privacy policies."
            },
            {
                "code": "domain_content_matches_entity",
                "type": "strength",
                "impact": "Reinforces the domain's official status and connection to the identified legal entity.",
                "description": "The content, branding, and services promoted on 'apple.com' are strongly aligned with Apple Inc.'s known business activities in consumer electronics, software, and online services."
            },
            {
                "code": "consistent_entity_references",
                "type": "strength",
                "impact": "Eliminates potential ambiguity and strengthens the confidence in entity identification.",
                "description": "Multiple pages throughout 'apple.com' consistently reference 'Apple Inc.' as the operating entity, reinforcing brand and legal alignment."
            },
            {
                "code": "current_ownership_verified",
                "type": "strength",
                "impact": "Ensures the identified legal entity has verifiable ownership and control over the domain.",
                "description": "Authoritative sources confirm that Apple Inc. is the current registrant and operator of the 'apple.com' domain."
            },
            {
                "code": "website_official_status",
                "type": "strength",
                "impact": "Solidifies the direct relationship between the domain and the legal entity, confirming its primary online presence.",
                "description": "The domain 'apple.com' serves as the official website of Apple Inc., providing product information, support, and corporate communications."
            }
        ],
        "actions": [],
        "domain_intelligence": {
            "domain": "apple.com",
            "url": "https://www.apple.com/",
            "description": "Apple Inc. is a technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. Its product lineup includes the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods. The company also offers a range of services such as Apple TV+, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade. Apple is committed to ethical business practices, legal compliance, and customer privacy, integrating these values into its product design and service offerings.",
            "classification": {
                "naics_codes_2022": [
                    {
                        "code": "334220",
                        "name": "Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing",
                        "relevance": 95,
                        "confidence": 95,
                        "is_primary": true
                    },
                    {
                        "code": "3341",
                        "name": "Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing",
                        "relevance": 85,
                        "confidence": 90,
                        "is_primary": false
                    },
                    {
                        "code": "513210",
                        "name": "Software Publishers",
                        "relevance": 75,
                        "confidence": 85,
                        "is_primary": false
                    },
                    {
                        "code": "517810",
                        "name": "All Other Telecommunications",
                        "relevance": 70,
                        "confidence": 80,
                        "is_primary": false
                    },
                    {
                        "code": "449210",
                        "name": "Electronics Stores",
                        "relevance": 65,
                        "confidence": 75,
                        "is_primary": false
                    },
                    {
                        "code": "33",
                        "name": "Manufacturing",
                        "relevance": 50,
                        "confidence": 60,
                        "is_primary": false
                    },
                    {
                        "code": "51",
                        "name": "Information",
                        "relevance": 50,
                        "confidence": 60,
                        "is_primary": false
                    }
                ],
                "business_model": [
                    "Hardware Sales",
                    "Software Licensing",
                    "Subscription Services",
                    "Online Retail"
                ],
                "products_services": [
                    "iPhone",
                    "iPad",
                    "Mac",
                    "Apple Watch",
                    "AirPods",
                    "Apple TV+",
                    "Apple Music",
                    "Apple Arcade",
                    "Computer Software"
                ],
                "business_tags": [
                    "Consumer Electronics",
                    "Mobile Devices",
                    "Computer Software",
                    "Online Services",
                    "Digital Media",
                    "Wearable Technology",
                    "Subscription Services",
                    "Privacy",
                    "Ethical Business Practices",
                    "Innovation"
                ]
            },
            "domain_context": {
                "domain_type": "corporate_website",
                "domain_relationship": "direct_owner",
                "domain_purpose": "The domain serves as the primary online presence for Apple, providing information about its products, services, and company policies.",
                "business_relevance": "The domain is central to Apple's business strategy, facilitating marketing, sales, customer support, and communication with stakeholders."
            },
            "domain_aliases": [
                "luminarypodcasts.com",
                "zalo.me",
                "asia.apple.com",
                "apple.in",
                "spotify.link",
                "applemusic.com",
                "tokopedia.link",
                "zaloapp.com",
                "surprise.com",
                "itunes.com",
                "quicktime.com",
                "darksky.net",
                "apple.co",
                "forecast.io",
                "workflow.is",
                "garageband.com",
                "mzstatic.com",
                "apple.de"
            ],
            "tranco_rank": 7,
            "website_status": {
                "status": 200,
                "is_resolvable": true,
                "is_webserver_responsive": true,
                "has_content": true,
                "failure_reason": null,
                "last_checked": "2025-07-28T23:59:07.599Z"
            },
            "is_disposable_email_provider": null
        }
    },
    "message": null,
    "metadata": {
        "last_updated": "2025-08-03T19:47:45.445Z",
        "processing_started_at": null,
        "estimated_completion": null
    }
}

Key Response Elements

domain: Input domain analyzed
status: Processing state (complete/building/refreshing/failed)
data.entity: Operating legal entity information + entity ID
data.candidate: Alternative result if entity confidence insufficient
data.factors: Explainability data for entity matching