What is a DNS Lookup Tool?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the internet, translating human-readable domain names (like example.com) into machine-readable IP addresses. A DNS Lookup tool acts as a diagnostic utility that queries global DNS servers to retrieve the public records associated with a specific domain. This helps you verify if your website is resolving correctly, check email routing (MX records), and validate domain ownership (TXT records).
How to Check DNS Records
Retrieve a complete list of DNS records for any domain in three easy steps:
Enter Domain
Type or paste the domain name you want to query into the input field. Do not include 'http://' or subdirectories.
Execute Search
Click the search button. The tool will instantly securely query Google's public DNS resolvers to fetch the most up-to-date global records.
Analyze & Export
Review the structured table of A, MX, TXT, and CNAME records. Use the export feature to download the results as a CSV file for documentation.
Key Features
Comprehensive Record Types
Queries and accurately identifies all major DNS record types including A, AAAA (IPv6), CNAME, MX (Mail Exchange), NS (Nameserver), TXT, and SOA.
Smart Caching Fallback
If global DNS resolution temporarily fails, the tool utilizes local browser caching to display the last known good configuration for uninterrupted debugging.
Instant CSV Export
Easily export your query results to a CSV file with one click, making it simple to share server configurations with your IT or development team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is an A Record?
An 'A' (Address) record is the most fundamental type of DNS record. It points a domain or subdomain to the IPv4 address of the server hosting the website. AAAA records do the same but for IPv6 addresses.
Why are MX records important?
MX (Mail Exchange) records direct a domain's email to the servers hosting the domain's user accounts. Without correct MX records, you cannot receive emails at your custom domain name.
What does TTL mean in DNS?
TTL stands for "Time to Live." It represents the amount of time (usually in seconds) that a DNS record is cached by a resolver or internet service provider before it must reach out to the authoritative nameserver for an update.
How long does DNS propagation take?
When you change a DNS record, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours for the changes to propagate across all DNS servers worldwide. This is dictated largely by the previous record's TTL setting.
Why isn't my new DNS record showing up?
If you recently updated your DNS settings and they aren't appearing, global DNS propagation is likely still occurring. Try clearing your local DNS cache or waiting for the original TTL period to expire.