NS Record Lookup
Find out exactly where a domain's DNS is hosted. Query the authoritative nameservers for any website instantly.
What is an NS Record?
An NS (Nameserver) record indicates which DNS server is authoritative for a domain. In other words, it tells the internet exactly where to go to find out the IP address or mail server details for your website.
When you purchase a domain name from a registrar, you must point that domain to a set of nameservers. Those nameservers contain your DNS zone file (your A, MX, and TXT records).
You can read more about the technical specifications of NS records in the Cloudflare DNS Learning Center.
Why Check Nameservers?
Looking up NS records is a vital troubleshooting step for domain routing.
Domain Migrations
When you move a website to a new web host, you must update your nameservers. An NS lookup verifies that the internet is seeing your new provider.
Troubleshooting
If your website is down or emails are failing, the first step is checking the NS records to ensure your domain hasn't been unassigned or hijacked.
Reconnaissance
Discover which infrastructure providers (like AWS, DigitalOcean, or Cloudflare) power a specific website by examining their nameserver patterns.
How DNS Delegation Works
DNS is a hierarchical system. When someone types your domain name, their browser first queries the global Root servers, which point to the Top-Level Domain (TLD) servers (like the servers controlling .com).
The TLD servers do not hold your website's IP address. Instead, they look at your domain's NS records and delegate the request to your specific nameservers. Those nameservers are the final stop, answering the request with your actual A or MX records.
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 nameserver goes offline, the secondary server will continue 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 by internet service providers, 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 modern websites use third-party DNS providers like Cloudflare or DNSMadeEasy to manage their DNS, while hosting the actual website files on a completely different server like AWS or DigitalOcean.