DNS Lookup
Look up the DNS records for a domain - A, AAAA, MX, TXT, and more - to see how it is configured. It is the first check when a site or email is misbehaving.
DNS Lookup
Check DNS records for any domain name in real time.
What DNS records tell you
DNS is the internet's address book: it translates a domain name into the addresses and settings systems need. An A record points the domain to an IPv4 address, AAAA to IPv6, MX records direct email to the right mail servers, and TXT records hold verification and policy data like SPF for email. Reading these reveals how a domain is set up and where its services live.
When a site will not load or email bounces, a DNS lookup quickly shows whether the records exist and point where they should, distinguishing a configuration problem from a server outage.
Common diagnostic uses
DNS is behind many connectivity puzzles.
- Confirming a new site's A record points to the right server after setup.
- Checking MX records when email is not being delivered.
- Verifying TXT records for domain ownership or email authentication.
Explore more free tools
Keep your workflow moving with other Utility Hub tools that pair well with DNS Lookup. Jump straight into another task without leaving the site.
FAQs
What is a DNS record?▼
An entry that tells the internet how to handle a domain - where its website is (A/AAAA), where its email goes (MX), and various settings (TXT, CNAME, and others). Together they configure the domain.
What does an A record do?▼
It maps a domain to an IPv4 address, so visitors reach the correct server. AAAA does the same for IPv6 addresses.
Why check MX records?▼
MX records direct a domain's email to its mail servers. If email is not arriving, missing or wrong MX records are a common cause, and a lookup shows them immediately.
What are TXT records used for?▼
They hold text data for verification and policy, such as proving domain ownership and email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). They are key to email deliverability.
Why do my DNS changes not show up yet?▼
Because of caching (TTL). Records are cached across the internet for a set time, so changes can take minutes to hours to propagate everywhere. A lookup may still show the old value briefly.
Is a lookup sent over the network?▼
Yes. Querying DNS for a domain requires contacting a DNS resolver, so a network request is made to fetch the records.
What is the difference between an A record and a CNAME?▼
An A record points directly to an IP address; a CNAME points one name to another name (an alias). CNAMEs are used to point subdomains at another host without hardcoding an IP.
If DNS resolves but the site is down, what does that mean?▼
It means the configuration is fine but the server itself is not responding. The problem is the host or application, not name resolution.
More tools from Network Tools
Continue with related utilities when this task is part of a bigger workflow.