DNS Lookup Tool

Query DNS records for any domain following RFC 1035 protocol. Check A, AAAA, MX, NS, CNAME, TXT, and SOA records instantly using Cloudflare DNS, Google DNS, and authoritative nameservers.

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Our DNS lookup tool queries authoritative nameservers and public resolvers like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 and Google 8.8.8.8 to retrieve comprehensive DNS records for any domain. Analyze your domain's DNS configuration, troubleshoot email delivery issues with MX records, verify nameserver propagation, and check SPF/DKIM records for email authentication. Perfect for network administrators, developers debugging DNS issues, or anyone managing domain infrastructure.

Enter a domain name without http:// or https:// prefix (e.g., google.com, github.com, cloudflare.com)

DNS Record Types

We query multiple DNS record types to give you complete visibility into your domain's configuration. Each record type serves a specific purpose in the DNS infrastructure, from mapping domains to IP addresses to configuring email servers and verifying domain ownership.

A

IPv4 Address
AAAA

IPv6 Address
MX

Mail Servers
NS

Name Servers
CNAME

Aliases
TXT

Text Records
SOA

Authority
WHOIS

Domain Info

Need more network tools? Check our SSL Certificate Checker for validating HTTPS security, HTTP Status Checker for response codes, HTTP Headers Analyzer for security headers, or What Is My IP to identify your public IP address and location.

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What is DNS Lookup and Why Do You Need It?

DNS lookup is the process of querying the Domain Name System (RFC 1034) to retrieve information about a specific domain name. Defined by RFC 1035, the DNS protocol translates human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. Our advanced DNS lookup tool provides instant access to all DNS record types including A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, TXT, NS, SOA, and more across multiple global DNS servers including Google Public DNS, Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Quad9, and authoritative nameservers.

Whether you're troubleshooting connectivity issues with our HTTP Status Checker, verifying domain configurations for SSL certificates, or monitoring DNS propagation across regions, our tool delivers accurate results in seconds following ICANN standards. No command-line expertise required—just enter a domain and get comprehensive DNS information instantly.

How Does DNS Resolution Work?

When you enter a domain name in your browser, a complex DNS resolution process happens behind the scenes to translate that human-readable name into an IP address that computers can understand. This hierarchical system, governed by root nameservers and TLD authorities, involves multiple steps and servers working together in milliseconds.

1

Initial Request

Your browser sends a DNS query to a recursive resolver (usually your ISP's server or public DNS like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8)

2

Root Server Query

If not cached, the resolver queries one of 13 root nameserver clusters operated by organizations like ICANN and Verisign

3

TLD Server Lookup

The root server directs to the appropriate top-level domain (TLD) server (.com, .org, .net, etc.)

4

Authoritative Answer

The TLD server points to the domain's authoritative nameserver which provides the final DNS records

Understanding DNS Record Types

A Address Records

Maps domain names to IPv4 addresses (32-bit). Most fundamental DNS record type defined in RFC 1035.

Example: example.com → 93.184.216.34

AAAA IPv6 Address Records

Maps domain names to IPv6 addresses (128-bit). Essential for modern internet infrastructure per RFC 3596.

Example: example.com → 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946

MX Mail Exchange Records

Specifies mail servers responsible for accepting email for the domain. Critical for email deliverability per RFC 5321.

Example: Priority 10: mail.example.com

CNAME Canonical Name Records

Creates domain aliases that point to other domain names. Useful for subdomains and CDNs per RFC 1035.

Example: www.example.com → example.com

TXT Text Records

Contains arbitrary text data, often used for email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and domain verification.

Example: "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"

NS Name Server Records

Indicates which authoritative servers have authority over DNS records for the domain per RFC 1035.

Example: ns1.example.com, ns2.example.com

When to Use DNS Lookup Tools

System Administrators & DevOps

Web Developers & Designers

Business Owners & Marketers

  • Verifying email deliverability and spam protection settings with MX and TXT records
  • Monitoring competitor domain configurations, hosting providers, and infrastructure using WHOIS data
  • Planning domain migrations and hosting changes with minimal downtime
  • Ensuring website uptime and performance optimization across different regions

Global DNS Servers for Accurate Results

Public DNS Providers

  • Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4 - World's most popular public DNS resolver
  • Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1 - Privacy-focused with fast global response times
  • Quad9: 9.9.9.9 - Security-focused DNS with threat intelligence blocking
  • OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 - Enterprise-grade DNS solutions with filtering

Specialized Lookups

Common DNS Problems Our Tool Helps Diagnose

Configuration Issues

Propagation & Performance

  • • Slow DNS propagation after recent changes across global nameservers
  • • Inconsistent records across different DNS servers causing accessibility issues
  • • TTL values causing caching issues and slow updates
  • • Nameserver conflicts and authority problems

DNS Lookup Frequently Asked Questions

How long does DNS propagation take?

DNS propagation typically takes 24-48 hours globally, but changes can be visible within minutes on some servers depending on TTL (Time To Live) settings. Our tool helps you monitor this process across multiple DNS providers including Cloudflare and Google DNS.

Can I check DNS records for subdomains?

Yes! Simply enter the full subdomain (like blog.example.com or api.example.com) to check its specific DNS configuration and records. You can verify CNAME records, A records, and other configurations for any subdomain, similar to checking the root domain.

What's the difference between authoritative and recursive DNS queries?

Authoritative nameservers provide official answers for domains they manage, while recursive resolvers cache responses and query other servers on your behalf. Our tool queries both types to give you comprehensive DNS information about domain configuration and current resolver status.

Is DNS lookup information private and secure?

DNS queries are inherently public information accessible via WHOIS databases and DNS servers. Our tool doesn't store your search history, and all queries are processed securely without logging personal data. For additional privacy, consider using DNS-over-TLS (DoT) or DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH).

Why do I see different results from different DNS servers?

DNS servers may have different cached information or update frequencies based on their TTL settings. Comparing results across servers helps identify propagation issues and ensures global accessibility. Use our HTTP Status Checker and SSL Checker for additional verification.

DNS Best Practices for 2025

Security & Performance

Monitoring & Maintenance

Command Line DNS Lookup Alternatives

While our web-based tool offers convenience and visual results, you can also perform DNS lookups using command-line tools like nslookup, dig, and host. These utilities follow the same RFC 1035 DNS protocol specifications as our tool.

Windows (nslookup)

nslookup example.com
nslookup -type=MX example.com
nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8

Linux/macOS (dig)

dig example.com
dig MX example.com
dig @1.1.1.1 example.com

Our web tool provides the same functionality with additional features like multi-server comparison, visual formatting, and links to related network diagnostics including HTTP status checks, SSL certificate validation, and HTTP headers analysis. No installation or technical knowledge required.