DNS lookup.
See every main DNS record for a domain in one place: where the website points (A and AAAA), which servers handle email (MX), who runs the DNS (NS), and the TXT records used for SPF, DMARC and site verification.
- Free, no sign-up
- We check public information only. How your data is handled
How to use the DNS Lookup
- Enter a domain name, such as example.com.
- Choose a record type, or leave it on "All records".
- Read the records, their values and their TTL (how long they are cached, in seconds).
- Use Copy to grab a value for your hosting or email provider.
The DNS records that matter for a business website
- A: the IPv4 address of the server that hosts your website.
- AAAA: the same for IPv6. Optional for most small sites.
- CNAME: an alias, pointing one name at another (often www to the main domain, or a subdomain to a service).
- MX: the servers that receive your email, in priority order (lower numbers first).
- NS: the nameservers that hold your DNS. Change these and every other record moves with them.
- TXT: free-text records used for SPF, DMARC, DKIM and proving domain ownership to Google, Microsoft and others.
- SOA: technical details about the zone, including a serial number that changes with each edit.
TTL and why changes take time
TTL (time to live) is how many seconds other servers may cache a record before asking again. A TTL of 3600 means a change can take up to an hour to reach everyone; 86400 means up to a day. Before a planned migration, lower the TTL to 300 a day or two in advance, so the switch spreads quickly.
Common uses
- Checking a website points to the new server after a move.
- Confirming MX records before switching email to Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
- Finding the TXT record a service asked you to add, to check it's published.
- Seeing who hosts the DNS for a domain (from the NS records).
DNS and email delivery
Most email problems start in DNS: a missing SPF record, two SPF records instead of one, or no DMARC. Our SPF, DKIM and DMARC checker reads those TXT records and explains them, and the domain health checker covers DNS, SSL, email and blacklists in one report.
About the DNS Lookup.
Why don't I see a DNS change I just made?
Resolvers cache records for their TTL. Wait for the old TTL to pass. Our lookup also caches results for two minutes.
Which DNS server does this tool use?
Our hosting server's resolver, the same kind of public lookup any website visitor's computer would make.
Why are CAA records not shown?
Our server's DNS functions can't read CAA records yet. Every other common type is covered.
What is the difference between A and CNAME?
An A record points a name straight at an IP address. A CNAME points a name at another name, which then resolves to an address. The root domain can't normally be a CNAME.
Can I look up a subdomain?
Yes. Enter it in full, such as shop.example.com.
You might also need these.
Domain Health Checker
One report on a domain's DNS, website, SSL, email authentication and blacklist status.
Use the toolSPF, DKIM & DMARC Checker
Check a domain's email authentication records, and generate a DMARC record to fix what's missing.
Use the toolSSL Checker
Check an SSL certificate: trusted or not, expiry date, the names it covers, issuer and HTTPS redirect.
Use the toolWant this done for you?
Free tools show you what to fix. We fix it, measure it, and keep it working while you run the business.