DNS · NS
NS Record Lookup
Find out exactly where a domain's DNS is hosted. Query the authoritative nameservers for any website instantly.
Overview
What is an NS record?
An NS (Nameserver) record indicates which DNS server is authoritative for a domain. It tells the internet exactly where to go to find the IP address or mail server details for your website.
When you buy a domain from a registrar, you point it at a set of nameservers. Those nameservers hold your DNS zone file — your A, MX, and TXT records.
You can read more about the technical specs in the Cloudflare DNS Learning Center.
Why check nameservers?
A vital troubleshooting step for domain routing.
Domain migrations
When you move a site to a new host, you update your nameservers. An NS lookup verifies the internet sees your new provider.
Troubleshooting
If a site is down or email is failing, checking NS records confirms the domain has not been unassigned or hijacked.
Reconnaissance
Discover which providers (AWS, DigitalOcean, Cloudflare) power a site by examining its nameserver patterns.
How DNS delegation works
DNS is hierarchical. When someone types your domain, their browser first queries the global root servers, which point to the Top-Level Domain (TLD) servers (like those for .com).
The TLD servers don't hold your IP. They read your domain's NS records and delegate the request to your specific nameservers — the final stop, answering with your actual A or MX records.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
What is an NS record?
An NS (Nameserver) record delegates a domain to a specific set of DNS servers. It tells the internet exactly which servers hold the actual DNS zone files (like A, MX, and TXT records) for that domain.
How many nameservers should a domain have?
For reliability and redundancy, a domain should have a minimum of two nameservers (e.g., ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com). If one goes offline, the secondary continues to answer requests. Many enterprise domains use four or more.
Why are my new nameservers not showing up?
Nameserver changes occur at the top-level domain (TLD) registry. Because these records are heavily cached globally, it can take 24 to 48 hours for a nameserver change to fully propagate across the internet.
Does an NS lookup show where a website is hosted?
It shows where the DNS is hosted, which is often the same as the web host, but not always. Many websites use third-party DNS providers like Cloudflare or DNSMadeEasy while hosting the actual website on a different server like AWS or DigitalOcean.
Keep digging
See the full DNS picture
Nameservers are the start. Run a full DNS lookup or check WHOIS to see the registrar and ownership behind a domain.