Public WHOIS is the traditional form of WHOIS, where the registrant's personal information, such as name, address, phone number, and email address, is publicly accessible through a WHOIS lookup. Public WHOIS information is maintained by domain name registrars and is required by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to be accurate and up-to-date.
Private WHOIS, on the other hand, is a service that allows registrants to keep their personal information private and not publicly accessible through a WHOIS lookup. Instead, the information of the WHOIS privacy service provider is displayed. This is useful for individuals or organizations who wish to protect their personal information and avoid unwanted spam, telemarketing, or other forms of harassment.
Both public and private WHOIS have their own benefits and drawbacks. Public WHOIS makes it easier for interested parties to contact the domain owner and helps maintain accountability on the Internet. However, it can also expose the registrant's personal information to potential spam or fraud. Private WHOIS provides privacy and protects personal information, but it can also make it harder for interested parties to contact the domain owner and can lead to decreased transparency and accountability on the Internet.