What is the role of WHOIS data in DNS footprinting and how can I automate retrieval

Question

I’ve been learning about DNS footprinting as part of a cybersecurity reconnaissance process. I understand that WHOIS data provides valuable information about domain ownership and registration details. However, I’m unclear on how exactly WHOIS data fits into the broader DNS footprinting process.

What kind of information can WHOIS data provide that enhances DNS footprinting efforts, and are there any tools or Python libraries that can automate the retrieval of WHOIS data for a list of domains? I’d appreciate any recommendations for best practices when using WHOIS data in the context of security research.