DNS Lookup
Look up the DNS records of any domain. See A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME and SOA records instantly.
This free DNS lookup tool queries the A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME and SOA records of any domain instantly. As a DNS checker and DNS record checker, it runs a live DNS query through Google and Cloudflare DNS-over-HTTPS. Use it for a quick DNS records lookup or an MX record lookup to diagnose email, hosting and domain issues — all in your browser.
What Is DNS? What Does DNS Mean?
The question what is DNS points to one of the fundamental concepts of internet infrastructure. DNS (Domain Name System) is described as the "phone book" of the internet. It converts human-readable domain names (e.g. google.com) into IP addresses that computers understand (e.g. 142.250.185.78).
The short answer to what DNS means: it is short for Domain Name System. Without DNS, you would have to enter an IP address instead of a domain name to reach websites. When you try to access a website, your browser sends a query to a DNS server to get the IP address corresponding to the domain name, then establishes the connection. This process usually completes within milliseconds.
DNS Records Lookup: Record Types and the DNS Checker
The record types you can look up with this DNS records lookup tool — also a handy DNS checker for verifying configuration — and their functions are summarized in the table below:
| Record Type | What is it for? | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| A | Points a domain to an IPv4 address | Web server address |
| AAAA | Points a domain to an IPv6 address | IPv6 web server |
| MX | Defines the email server | Google Workspace, Outlook |
| NS | Specifies the authoritative DNS servers | Cloudflare, AWS Route 53 |
| TXT | Free text; for verification | SPF, DKIM, DMARC, GSC |
| CNAME | Points a domain to another domain | www -> root domain, CDN |
| SOA | Contains DNS zone metadata | TTL, admin email |
DNS Propagation Time and What TTL Is
A change made to DNS records usually takes between 1 and 48 hours to propagate to all DNS servers in the world. This time is called DNS propagation. The most important factor affecting the propagation time is the TTL (Time to Live) value of the changed record.
- What is TTL? It defines, in seconds, how long the DNS cache will keep the record. 3600 = 1 hour, 86400 = 24 hours.
- Low TTL: DNS servers check the record more often; changes propagate fast. But be careful about putting load on the DNS servers.
- High TTL: fewer queries are made; changes propagate slowly. Suitable for stable configurations.
- Recommendation: before changing hosting, lower the TTL value to 300-600 seconds, make the change, and raise it again after it propagates.
How Does DNS Work? — The DNS Resolution Process
When you enter a web address, the following steps happen in the background:
- 1. Cache check: your browser and operating system look for the record in their caches.
- 2. Recursive resolver: the DNS server of your ISP or the one you set (e.g. 8.8.8.8) processes the query.
- 3. Root server: tells which TLD server (e.g. .com, .net) to go to.
- 4. TLD server: points to the domain's authoritative DNS server (NS record).
- 5. Authoritative server: returns the IP address corresponding to the domain name.
- 6. Connection: the browser connects to the IP address found; the page loads.
Why Is a DNS Lookup Necessary?
DNS lookup is a basic operation needed in many different situations. For website owners, system administrators and developers, running a DNS query is an integral part of the daily workflow.
- After a hosting change: after redirecting to a new server, a DNS query is done to verify that the A record is updated correctly.
- For email problems: if incoming or outgoing emails are not working, run an MX record lookup plus a TXT (SPF/DKIM) check with a DNS query to find the cause.
- Before buying a domain: the target domain's NS and SOA records are examined to analyze its current state.
- DNSSEC and security audit: SPF, DKIM and DMARC email security policies are checked through TXT records.
- CDN and proxy configuration: CNAME records verify that CDN services like Cloudflare and Fastly are configured correctly.
- After a domain transfer: a DNS query is needed to confirm that the NS record change has propagated and propagation is complete.
DNS Security: DNSSEC, SPF, DKIM and DMARC
The DNS infrastructure plays a critical role not only in domain name resolution but also in email security. Security policies defined through TXT records help block spam and phishing attacks.
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): specifies which servers can send email on behalf of the domain. It is defined with a TXT record such as
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all. - DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): verifies email messages with a cryptographic signature. The receiving server checks the signature by querying the DKIM TXT record.
- DMARC: determines what to do (reject, quarantine, monitor) when SPF and DKIM fail. The TXT record is added to the
_dmarcsubdomain. - DNSSEC: ensures DNS responses are verified with a cryptographic signature. It protects against DNS cache poisoning attacks.
Public DNS Servers and DNS Performance
An important factor affecting the overall performance of your internet connection is the DNS server you use. Instead of the default DNS server provided by your ISP, you can choose faster or privacy-focused alternatives.
| DNS Provider | Primary Server | Secondary Server | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | Fast, broad infrastructure | |
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 | Privacy-focused, very fast |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 | Parental control option |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 | Malicious domain blocking |
DNS Query Commands: Using nslookup and dig
For users who want to run a DNS query from the command line, there are two basic tools:
- nslookup: built into Windows, macOS and Linux. The command
nslookup google.comqueries the A record.nslookup -type=MX google.comqueries the MX record. - dig: an advanced DNS lookup tool found on Linux/macOS. It has usages such as
dig google.com A,dig google.com MX,dig +short google.com. A custom DNS server can be specified with@8.8.8.8. - host: a simple alternative for users who want short output. The command
host google.comquickly shows the A and MX records. - This online tool: the easiest and fastest method for those who want to reach all DNS records with one click by entering a domain name, without using the command line.
How to Use This DNS Lookup Tool
- Enter the domain name: type the domain you want to look up (e.g. google.com) in the input box. Even with the https:// protocol or a /path, the tool cleans it automatically.
- Choose the record type: the "All" tab looks up all DNS records at once. For a specific type, select the A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME or SOA tab.
- Press the "Look Up" button: results are fetched in real time using the Google and Cloudflare DNS over HTTPS (DoH) APIs.
- Review the results: for each record, the TTL value, target address and type-specific details (MX priority, SOA serial number, etc.) are displayed.
In the FAQ section you can find more information on what DNS is, what DNS means, and how to do a DNS lookup.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DNS Lookup
DNS (Domain Name System) is described as the "phone book" of the internet. It converts human-readable domain names (e.g. google.com) into IP addresses that computers understand (e.g. 142.250.185.78). When you try to access a website, your browser sends a query to a DNS server to get the IP address corresponding to the domain name.
DNS is short for "Domain Name System". It is a distributed database system that translates domain names into IP addresses. Without DNS, you would have to access websites by entering an IP address instead of a domain name.
DNS changes usually propagate worldwide within 1-48 hours. The most important factor affecting this time is the TTL (Time to Live) value of the changed record. A low TTL value makes DNS servers check the record more often, so changes propagate faster.
An MX (Mail Exchanger) record specifies which server will receive emails sent to a domain. When multiple MX records are defined, the server with the lower priority number is tried first. This setup uses the primary server if it is working, and a backup server otherwise.
For a DNS lookup, enter the domain name (e.g. google.com) in this tool and press the "Look Up" button. All DNS records are listed automatically. To see a specific record type, use the tabs (A, MX, NS, etc.). You can also do a DNS query on the command line with "nslookup google.com" or "dig google.com".
An NS (Name Server) record specifies which DNS servers manage a domain. When you change your hosting or domain provider, you need to update the NS records. Without the NS records set correctly, the other DNS records (A, MX, etc.) do not work.
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