DNS Lookup Tool
Check public DNS records for any domain, including A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME, NS, PTR, SOA, and SRV. Use it to troubleshoot DNS issues, verify record changes, and inspect how a domain is configured.
Use it for
Website moves, email setup, verification records, and DNS checks
Checks
A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME, NS, PTR, SOA, and SRV records
Good to know
Fresh DNS changes may take time to appear because of caching
What is a DNS lookup?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is the system that tells devices where websites, mail servers, and other internet services are located. A DNS lookup is the process of asking for one or more records tied to a domain or hostname.
This DNS Lookup Tool helps you manually inspect those public records. That is useful when you are troubleshooting a website move, checking email routing, validating verification records, or confirming that DNS changes were published correctly.
Which DNS record type should I use?
Choose the record type based on what you are trying to verify or troubleshoot.
Checking where a website points
Use A for IPv4 and AAAA for IPv6.
Checking email routing
Use MX to see which mail servers receive email for a domain.
Checking verification or email policies
Use TXT for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and domain verification tokens.
Checking aliases
Use CNAME when one hostname points to another hostname.
Checking who manages DNS
Use NS to see the nameservers for the domain.
Checking reverse DNS
Use PTR when validating hostname mappings for an IP address or mail server identity.
Checking service discovery
Use SRV for services like SIP, XMPP, or other protocol-specific routing.
Checking zone details
Use SOA to inspect zone authority details like the primary nameserver and serial number.
Common DNS record types explained
Understand what each DNS record controls on a domain.
Address Record
Points a hostname directly to an IPv4 address. This is one of the most common records used for websites.
IPv6 Address Record
Works like an A record, but points to an IPv6 address instead of IPv4.
Canonical Name
Creates an alias from one hostname to another hostname. It does not point directly to an IP address.
Mail Exchange
Controls where email for a domain is delivered and which mail servers handle incoming mail.
Text Record
Stores text data used for verification, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and other service integrations.
Nameserver
Shows which nameservers are authoritative for the domain and where the zone is managed.
Pointer Record
Used for reverse DNS. It maps an IP address back to a hostname and is often checked for mail server trust.
Start of Authority
Contains core zone information such as the primary nameserver, responsible contact, serial number, and timing settings.
Service Record
Defines the hostname and port for specific services such as SIP or XMPP, including priority and weight.
Why use a DNS lookup tool?
A DNS lookup is one of the first checks to run when a website, email system, or external service is not working the way you expect.
-
Verify website migrations: confirm that A or AAAA records point to the right server after a move.
-
Troubleshoot email delivery: check MX and TXT records for routing and email security policies.
-
Confirm nameserver changes: use NS records to verify who is authoritative for the domain.
-
Validate verification records: confirm TXT or CNAME records for Google, Microsoft, Cloudflare, and other services.
Why different DNS tools sometimes show different answers
DNS tools do not always query the same systems in the same way. Some use cached recursive resolvers, while others may query different sources or locations.
If you just changed DNS, it is normal for one tool to show the new answer while another still shows the old one. That usually means cached results have not expired everywhere yet.
Common reasons results differ
- • Resolver caching and TTL values
- • Recently changed nameservers or zone records
- • Querying different locations or networks
- • Looking up the wrong hostname or subdomain
- • Checking the wrong record type for the task
DNS Lookup
Best for checking current DNS records
Use this tool when you want to inspect a specific record type and see what a domain currently publishes for A, MX, TXT, NS, or other records.
DNS Propagation
Best for checking how changes spread globally
If you just updated DNS and want to see whether different locations are seeing the new answer yet, use a propagation checker.
Open DNS Propagation CheckerRelated DNS tools
Useful follow-up checks depending on what you are trying to verify.
MX Lookup
Check mail routing records for Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and other providers.
TXT Lookup
Inspect SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and domain verification records.
NS Lookup
Check which nameservers are authoritative for a domain.
WHOIS Lookup
Research registrar details, dates, and domain ownership information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DNS lookup?
A DNS lookup is the process of querying the Domain Name System to find the public records associated with a domain or hostname, such as IP addresses, mail routing, nameservers, and verification data.
What is the difference between an A record and a CNAME record?
An A record points directly to an IPv4 address. A CNAME record points one hostname to another hostname instead of directly to an IP.
Why are my DNS changes not showing up?
DNS data is cached by resolvers according to TTL settings. If you recently changed a record, some systems may still return the previous answer until those cached results expire.
What is a TXT record used for?
TXT records are commonly used for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, domain verification, and other service integrations that require publishing text values in DNS.
What is a PTR record?
A PTR record is used for reverse DNS. It maps an IP address back to a hostname and is often important for mail servers and trust checks.
What is an SRV record?
An SRV record specifies the hostname and port for certain services. It is commonly used for protocols like SIP, XMPP, and other service discovery use cases.
Is this DNS lookup tool free?
Yes, this DNS lookup tool is free to use for checking public DNS records.