Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’

Having difficulties fixing Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’ in your python code? Don’t worry, this article is for you.

In this article, we will discuss the possible causes of this Attributeerror, and provide solutions to resolve the error.

But before anything else let’s discuss first what python whois means.

What is python whois?

In Python, the whois module is a third-party library that allows you to interact with WHOIS servers and retrieve this information programmatically.

WHOIS is a protocol used to retrieve information about domain names, IP addresses, and other network-related information

To use the whois module in your Python code, you can install it using pip by running the command:

pip install python-whois

Now let’s discuss what Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’ means.

What is Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’?

The “AttributeError: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois‘” is an error message indicating that you are trying to access an attribute named “whois” in the “whois” module, but the attribute does not exist in the module.

Here’s an example code that could raise an error with the message “module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’”:

import whois

domain = 'example.com'
w = whois.whois(domain)

In this example code, it tries to use the whois module to retrieve information about a domain name, but if the whois module doesn’t have an attribute called whois, an error will be raised with the message :

AttributeError: module 'whois' has no attribute 'whois'

Next, Let us know how this Attributeerror occurs.

How does this Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’ Occurs?

The error “AttributeError: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’” occurs when Python code tries to access an attribute or method in the whois module that doesn’t exist.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as:

1. Outdated or missing whois module:

If the whois module is not installed or an outdated version is installed, the whois.whois() method may not be available.

2. Typo or incorrect usage:

If there is a typo in the code or the whois.whois() method is not used correctly, an error may occur.

For example:

import whois

# Incorrect usage of whois.whois() method
w = whois(domain='example.com')

# Typo in the module name
w = whios.whois('example.com')

3. Compatibility issues:

If there is a compatibility issue between the whois module and other dependencies or the Python version, the error may occur.

For example, if the whois module is not compatible with Python 3.10 yet, you may encounter an Attributeerror if you try to use it with that version.

Now lets Fix this Attributeerror.

Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’ – Solution

Here are the different ways to fix this Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’:

1. Update or reinstall the whois module:

Make sure you have the latest version of the whois module installed or reinstall it if necessary.

You can use the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

check if the module is installed and its version:

python -m whois --version

If the whois module is not installed, you can install it using the following command:

pip install python-whois

If the whois module is installed but outdated, you can update it using the following command:

pip install --upgrade python-whois

2. Check for typos and correct usage:

Double-check your code for any typos or incorrect usage of the whois.whois() method. Make sure you are using it correctly, as shown in the following example:

import whois

# Correct usage of whois.whois() method
w = whois.whois('example.com')

3. Use an alternative whois library:

If you are still encountering the error with the whois module, you can try using an alternative library, such as python-whois-extended or whois-parser. These libraries offer similar functionality and may work better for your use case.

pip install python-whois-extended

pip install whois-parser

In general, to avoid this Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’, make sure you have the latest version of the whois module installed. Double-check your code for typos and usage errors, and verify that the module is compatible with your Python version and other dependencies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article Attributeerror: module ‘whois’ has no attribute ‘whois’, is an error message indicating that you are trying to access an attribute named “whois” in the “whois” module, but the attribute does not exist in the module.

By following the given solution, surely you can fix the error quickly and proceed to your coding project again.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below. For more attributeerror tutorials in Python, visit our website.

Python AttributeError debugging checklist

• Print the actual type. Insert print(type(obj)) before the failing line — usually reveals the mismatch immediately.
• Use dir(). print(dir(obj)) lists all available attributes on the object.
• Check version compatibility. Many AttributeErrors come from methods that were renamed or removed between library versions.
• Guard with hasattr(). if hasattr(obj, "method"): obj.method() — useful for cross-version code.
• Use type hints + mypy. Static type checking catches most AttributeErrors before you run the code.

Common root causes across all AttributeError variants

• None return values. A function returned None when the caller expected an object.
• Version drift. Library API changed between versions.
• Variable overwrite. A local variable was reassigned with the wrong type (list → dict, str → int).
• Method vs attribute confusion. Calling a property with () or accessing a method without ().
• Missing initialization. Some frameworks require init() before accessing certain attributes.

Modern Python tooling to prevent AttributeError

• Type hints + Optional[T]. Explicit null-handling in signatures.
• mypy or Pyright. Runs your codebase through a type checker before you run it.
• Ruff. Fast linter that catches many attribute-access issues.
• pydantic v2. Runtime validation with the same syntax as static types.
• pytest fixtures. Test with edge-case inputs to catch AttributeError paths early.

John Paul Blauro

Programmer & Technical Writer at PIES IT Solution

John Paul Blauro is a programmer and writer at PIES IT Solution, author of 55 Python error-fix tutorials at itsourcecode.com. Specializes in Python TypeError debugging (str/int type errors, unsupported operand types, iterable-related issues) and AttributeError debugging (NoneType, dict/list/series object attribute errors) for developers and BSIT students.

Expertise: Python · Python TypeError · Python AttributeError · Type Debugging · Error Handling
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