DNS Lookup
Query all major DNS record types for any domain name. See A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, and CNAME records as returned by authoritative nameservers. Useful for debugging email delivery, verifying domain configuration, and investigating infrastructure.
DNS Record Types Explained
DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names into the addresses computers use. Different record types serve different purposes: For a beginner-friendly primer, read our guide to what DNS is or see how DNS resolution works step by step.
| Record Type | Full Name | Purpose | Common Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
A |
Address | Maps domain to IPv4 address | Website hosting, server routing |
AAAA |
IPv6 Address | Maps domain to IPv6 address | Modern IPv6-capable infrastructure |
MX |
Mail Exchange | Specifies email servers | Email routing, spam prevention setup |
NS |
Name Server | Identifies authoritative DNS servers | DNS delegation, registrar management |
TXT |
Text | Arbitrary text data | SPF, DKIM, DMARC, Google/Microsoft verification |
CNAME |
Canonical Name | Domain alias pointing to another domain | CDN configuration, subdomains, service aliases |
SOA |
Start of Authority | Zone management metadata | TTL defaults, zone transfers, serial tracking |
PTR |
Pointer | Reverse DNS - IP to hostname | Email deliverability, logging, abuse investigation |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check the DNS records for a domain?
Enter the domain in the form above and choose a record type. The tool performs a live query against the public DNS system and returns the current A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, or CNAME records with their TTL values. Because the query runs from our server rather than your machine, the answer is independent of your local DNS cache.
Why are my DNS changes not showing yet?
DNS results are cached. Every record has a TTL (time to live), and resolvers around the world keep serving the old value until their cached copy expires - That delay is what people call DNS propagation. Changes typically appear within the old TTL, though some resolvers hold records longer, up to 24-48 hours. Lowering the TTL before a planned change speeds this up.
What is the difference between an A record and a CNAME record?
An A record maps a hostname directly to an IPv4 address (AAAA does the same for IPv6). A CNAME is an alias: it points one hostname at another hostname, which is then resolved in turn. CNAMEs are convenient when many names should follow one target, but a CNAME cannot coexist with other records, which is why the bare domain root normally uses an A record.