DNS Lookup
Query DNS records including A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME, and SOA
🌐What is DNS?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is often called the "phonebook of the internet." It translates human-readable domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses (like 142.250.185.78) that computers use to identify each other on the network.
When you type a website address in your browser, a DNS query is performed to find the corresponding IP address. This process happens in milliseconds and is essential for the functioning of the internet.
Understanding DNS Record Types
A Record (Address)
Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address. This is the most fundamental DNS record type and is essential for website hosting.
AAAA Record (IPv6)
Similar to A records but maps to IPv6 addresses. Important for modern internet infrastructure and future-proofing.
MX Record (Mail Exchange)
Specifies mail servers responsible for receiving email. Priority values determine which server to try first.
TXT Record (Text)
Holds text information for various purposes including SPF, DKIM, domain verification, and other metadata.
NS Record (Name Server)
Indicates which DNS servers are authoritative for the domain. Essential for DNS delegation.
CNAME Record (Canonical Name)
Creates an alias from one domain name to another. Useful for subdomains pointing to the main domain.
Why Use a DNS Lookup Tool?
Security Auditing
Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to ensure email security and prevent spoofing attacks.
Troubleshooting
Diagnose DNS propagation issues, configuration errors, and connectivity problems.
Migration Planning
Document existing DNS records before domain transfers or hosting migrations.
How DNS Resolution Works
When you enter a domain name in your browser, a complex but lightning-fast process begins. First, your computer checks its local cache for a recent DNS lookup. If not found, the query goes to your ISP's recursive DNS resolver.
The resolver then queries the root DNS servers, which direct it to the appropriate Top-Level Domain (TLD) servers (like .com or .org). The TLD servers point to the authoritative name servers for the specific domain, which finally return the IP address. This entire process typically takes just 20-120 milliseconds.
DNS caching at multiple levels (browser, operating system, ISP) helps speed up subsequent requests. The Time-To-Live (TTL) value in DNS records determines how long these cached entries remain valid before a fresh lookup is required.
Common DNS Issues and Solutions
DNS Propagation Delays
After changing DNS records, it can take 24-48 hours for changes to propagate globally. Use lower TTL values before making changes to speed up propagation.
NXDOMAIN Errors
This error means the domain doesn't exist in DNS. Check for typos, ensure the domain is registered, and verify name server configuration.
Missing MX Records
Email delivery fails without proper MX records. Ensure MX records point to valid mail servers with correct priority values.
SPF/DKIM Failures
Emails marked as spam often have misconfigured TXT records. Verify SPF includes all sending servers and DKIM keys are properly published.
Related Tools
Redirect Checker
Trace URL redirect chains and analyze redirect types (301, 302, 307, 308)
WHOIS Domain Lookup
Get detailed information about domain registration and ownership
HTTP Headers Viewer
Inspect HTTP response headers including security, caching, and CORS headers
IP Address Lookup
Get location, ISP, and other IP information
URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode URL parameters and strings
User-Agent Parser
Parse and analyze browser user-agent strings
HTTP Status Checker
Check HTTP status codes, response times, and headers for any URL
SSL Certificate Checker
Check SSL certificate validity, expiration date, and security details
Website Screenshot
Capture full-page or viewport screenshots of any website in PNG, JPEG, or WebP
Background Remover
Remove backgrounds from images using AI
Extract Audio from Video
Extract audio tracks from video files
Cut Audio
Trim audio files to specific start/end times