DNS Tools

DNS Lookup Basics

Learn the fundamentals of DNS lookups and how to interpret different record types.

What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network. It translates human-readable domain names (like example.com) to machine-readable IP addresses (like 192.0.2.1).

Common DNS Record Types

DNS records are instructions that live in authoritative DNS servers and provide information about a domain including what IP address is associated with that domain and how to handle requests for that domain. These records consist of a series of text files written in what is known as DNS syntax. Here are the most common types:

A Record

Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address. For example, example.com might point to 192.0.2.1.

AAAA Record

Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address. For example, example.com might point to 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

MX Record

Specifies the mail servers responsible for accepting email on behalf of a domain and their priority.

NS Record

Specifies the authoritative DNS servers for a domain.

CNAME Record

Maps one domain name to another. For example, www.example.com might point to example.com.

TXT Record

Stores text information. Often used for verification purposes, such as domain ownership verification.

How to Use Our DNS Lookup Tool

Our DNS Lookup tool allows you to query DNS records for any domain. Here's how to use it:

  1. Navigate to the DNS Lookup tool.
  2. Enter the domain name you want to look up.
  3. Select the record type you want to query (or select "All" to query all record types).
  4. Click the "Lookup" button.
  5. The results will show all matching DNS records for the domain.

Interpreting DNS Lookup Results

When you perform a DNS lookup, you'll see various fields in the results. Here's what they mean:

  • Name: The domain name the record applies to.
  • Type: The type of DNS record (A, AAAA, MX, etc.).
  • Value: The value of the record, such as an IP address or domain name.
  • TTL (Time to Live): How long the record can be cached before it needs to be refreshed.
  • Priority: For MX records, the priority of the mail server (lower numbers have higher priority).

Common DNS Issues and Troubleshooting

If you're experiencing issues with your DNS configuration, here are some common problems and solutions:

  • DNS Propagation Delays: When you make changes to your DNS records, it can take time for those changes to propagate across the internet. Use our DNS Propagation Checker to monitor the status of your changes.
  • Incorrect DNS Records: If your website or email isn't working correctly, it might be due to incorrect DNS records. Use our DNS Health Checker to identify issues with your DNS configuration.
  • DNS Cache Issues: Sometimes, DNS changes don't appear to take effect due to caching. You can use our DNS Cache Poisoning Checker to identify caching issues.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics of DNS lookups, you might want to explore more advanced topics: