DNS Lookup
Query A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME, SOA, and PTR records for any domain
Frequently Asked Questions
example.com into machine-readable IP addresses. A DNS lookup queries DNS servers to retrieve these records. Different record types store different information: A records store IPv4 addresses, MX records store mail server info, TXT records store text (often used for domain verification), etc.93.184.216.34). It is the most fundamental DNS record type — when a browser looks up a website, it typically queries the A record first. A domain can have multiple A records for load balancing.aspmx.l.google.com with priority 1).www.example.com might CNAME to example.com. When a DNS resolver sees a CNAME, it continues the lookup to resolve the target. Note: you cannot have a CNAME at a zone apex (root domain).example.com → 93.184.216.34). The most fundamental DNS record type.AAAA record — Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address (e.g.
example.com → 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946). The IPv6 equivalent of the A record.CNAME record — Creates an alias from one name to another (e.g.
www.example.com → example.com). The resolver follows the CNAME chain to the final A/AAAA record. CNAMEs cannot be used at the zone apex (root domain) and cannot coexist with other record types at the same name.
An authoritative nameserver is the server that holds the actual DNS records for a domain. When a resolver needs to look up
example.com, it ultimately queries the authoritative nameserver for that domain (found via the domain's NS records) to get the definitive answer.
Windows:
ipconfig /flushdns in Command Prompt (run as Administrator)macOS (Sonoma/Ventura):
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderLinux (systemd-resolved):
sudo systemd-resolve --flush-cachesChrome browser: navigate to
chrome://net-internals/#dns and click "Clear host cache"This is useful after DNS changes when your local cache is serving the old IP.
About This DNS Lookup Tool
This free DNS Lookup tool queries the DNS system in real time for any domain. It supports all major record types including A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME, SOA, and PTR. Results include the value, TTL, and any record-specific fields like MX priority or SOA serial number.
DNS Record Types
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| A | Maps domain to IPv4 address |
| AAAA | Maps domain to IPv6 address |
| MX | Mail exchange servers |
| NS | Nameservers for the domain |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, etc.) |
| CNAME | Alias to another domain |
| SOA | Start of Authority record |
| PTR | Reverse DNS pointer |
Common TTL Values
| TTL | Duration | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 1 minute | During migrations |
| 300 | 5 minutes | Dynamic/changing |
| 3600 | 1 hour | Standard |
| 86400 | 24 hours | Stable records |
| 604800 | 1 week | Rarely changed |
Standards & References
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