DNS

DNS Lookup

Perform DNS lookups (A, MX, TXT, etc.) for any domain.

What

DNS Lookup definition

DNS lookup resolves domain records such as A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, and TXT.

Cases

Use Cases

Check domain record propagation

Verify email or SPF records

Debug routing or misconfigured domains

How To

How to Look Up DNS Records

A step-by-step guide to checking A, MX, TXT and other DNS records.

Enter domain

Type the domain to query (e.g., example.com).

Select record type

Choose A, MX, TXT, CNAME or another type.

Run lookup

Click Lookup to see DNS records and TTL values.

Knowledge

Understanding DNS

What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet's phonebook. It translates human-readable domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses (like 93.184.216.34) that computers use to identify each other on the network.

DNS Record Types

A records map domains to IPv4 addresses. AAAA records map to IPv6. CNAME records create aliases. MX records specify mail servers. TXT records store text data (often for verification or SPF). NS records identify authoritative nameservers.

DNS Resolution Process

When you visit a website, your computer queries a recursive resolver, which checks root servers, then TLD servers (.com, .org), then authoritative nameservers for the domain. Results are cached based on TTL values.

TTL (Time To Live)

TTL specifies how long (in seconds) DNS records should be cached. Lower TTLs allow faster updates but increase DNS query load. Higher TTLs reduce queries but slow propagation of changes.

DNS Security (DNSSEC)

DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records, preventing spoofing attacks. It ensures you're connecting to the legitimate server. DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) encrypt DNS queries for privacy.

FAQ

DNS lookup FAQ

What does a DNS lookup show?

It resolves records like A/AAAA (IP), MX (mail), TXT, and CNAME for a domain.

When do I use each record type?

Use A/AAAA for web hosting, MX for email routing, TXT for SPF or domain verification, and CNAME for aliases.

What does TTL mean?

Time To Live in seconds—DNS caches use it to decide how long to keep a response.

Why do lookup results differ by network?

Resolvers cache records and may serve geo-specific answers. Compare with a public resolver (e.g., 1.1.1.1) to cross-check.

When did DNS originate?

DNS was introduced in the 1980s to replace HOSTS.txt, scaling name resolution for the growing internet.

How essential is DNS today?

DNS underpins nearly every internet request, and DNS-over-HTTPS/TLS has increased its security profile and widespread use.

What are common DNS use cases?

Routing web traffic, verifying domains for email or certificates, geo-based routing via CDNs, and service discovery.

Any maintenance tips for DNS records?

Keep TTLs aligned to change frequency, monitor propagation, document ownership of records, and rotate critical keys like DNSSEC when required.

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DNS