DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM TOOL

Lookup Supported Domain DNS Records

Instantly look up A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, TXT, and NS records for a domain using Google's Public DNS resolver.

🌐A + AAAA Records 📧MX Records 🔗CNAME + NS 📝TXT Records 🆓Free to Use
Understanding DNS

What is a DNS Lookup Tool?

Queries the Domain Name System — the internet's phonebook — to retrieve supported DNS records associated with a domain.

The Internet's Phonebook

The Domain Name System translates human-readable domain names like example.com into machine-readable IP addresses like 93.184.216.34. DNS records are the individual entries that tell the internet how to handle your domain — where to send web traffic, where to deliver email, which servers are authoritative, and more.

Multiple Record Types

Each DNS record type serves a specific purpose. A records point to IPv4 addresses, MX records handle email, CNAME records create aliases, TXT records hold verification and security data, and NS records list authoritative name servers.

Connectivity Diagnosis

DNS issues can cause website and email connectivity problems. This tool lets developers, sysadmins, and SEO professionals verify configurations, diagnose propagation issues, and investigate any domain's infrastructure in seconds.

How This Tool Works

Enter any domain and select a record type (or All Supported). Our server queries Google's Public DNS resolver for each record type and returns the results with TTL values. The DNS query is sent server-side, so your browser does not directly query Google's DNS endpoint.

DNS Lookup Tool

Built & maintained by Bhavin J. Sheth | Last updated on August 15, 2026

Select a record type or retrieve all record types currently supported by this tool. Results are fetched live via Google's Public DNS resolver.

Enter a domain and click Lookup DNS to retrieve records.
Usage Limits: 30 lookups/hour per IP • 200 lookups/24 hours per IP. These limits help protect server resources and prevent excessive automated requests.
DNS Record Types

The 10 Most Important DNS Records

Understanding what each record type does and when you'd use it.

Type Full Name What It Does Common Use Cases Example Value
A
Address Record
An A record lets clients resolve a hostname to an IPv4 address (like 192.0.2.1). A website may instead use an AAAA record for IPv6 or a CNAME in some configurations. Pointing your domain to your web server's IP address. 93.184.216.34
AAAA
Quad-A Record
Maps a domain to an IPv6 address (the modern 128-bit version of IP). Supporting IPv6 traffic alongside IPv4. Increasingly important for modern networks. 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946
CNAME
Canonical Name
Creates an alias — points one domain name to another domain name (not an IP). Subdomains pointing to CDNs (wwwcdn.provider.com), custom domains for SaaS. shops.myshopify.com
MX
Mail Exchanger
Specifies which mail servers accept email for your domain. Includes priority (lower = preferred). Configuring email delivery via Gmail, Outlook, or custom mail servers. 10 aspmx.l.google.com
NS
Name Server
Lists the authoritative name servers for your domain — where DNS records live. Delegating DNS to Cloudflare, Route 53, or your registrar's DNS. ns1.cloudflare.com
TXT
Text Record
Stores arbitrary text data. Most commonly used for verification and email security. Domain ownership verification, SPF (email spoofing prevention), DKIM, DMARC policies. v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
SOA
Start of Authority
Contains administrative info about the zone: primary name server, admin email, serial number, TTL defaults. Zone management, secondary DNS sync. The serial number must increment when records change. ns1.example.com admin.example.com 2024010101 ...
PTR
Pointer Record
Reverse DNS — maps an IP address back to a domain name (opposite of A record). Email server verification (many mail servers reject mail without valid PTR). Network troubleshooting. mail.example.com
SRV
Service Record
Specifies host and port for specific services (SIP, XMPP, Minecraft, etc.). Microsoft 365 autodiscover, VoIP services, gaming servers, custom app protocols. 10 60 5060 sip.example.com
CAA
Cert Authority Auth
Specifies which Certificate Authorities are allowed to issue SSL/TLS certificates for your domain. Helps restrict certificate issuance to authorized Certificate Authorities. 0 issue "letsencrypt.org"
Quick Guide

How to Use This DNS Lookup Tool

Four simple steps from domain to DNS record report.

1

Enter domain

Type or paste any supported domain — google.com, example.org, etc.

2

Select type

Choose a specific record type (A, MX, etc.) or all supported records.

3

Click Lookup

Our server queries Google DNS and returns all matching records.

4

Review & copy

View grouped results with TTL values. Copy individual or all records.

Understanding TTL

What TTL Means and Why It Matters

TTL (Time To Live) controls how long DNS records are cached — and how fast your changes propagate.

⏱️

TTL = Cache Duration

What it is: Time To Live, measured in seconds. Tells DNS resolvers how long to cache a record before asking again.
Example: TTL of 3600 = cached for 1 hour. TTL of 300 = cached for 5 minutes.

🔄

Low TTL = Faster DNS Updates

Key Concept: Lower TTLs can help resolvers pick up changes sooner after cached responses expire.
Trade-off: More DNS queries = slightly higher load on your name servers.

High TTL = Better Performance

When to use: For stable records that rarely change. Common values: 3600 (1 hour), 86400 (24 hours).
Benefit: Faster lookups because resolvers serve from cache. Lower load on name servers.

🚨

Why Changes Take Time

Reality: Even if you update a record instantly, old TTL values may still be cached. DNS changes become visible as cached responses expire according to TTL values. Some changes may be visible quickly, while others can take longer depending on resolver caches and configuration.

🧭

Master the Most Useful Free DNS Tools for Developers

A practical developer-focused guide covering DNS lookup, dig, nslookup, MX lookup, propagation checking, troubleshooting techniques, and real-world debugging workflows.

📘 Read Full DNS Tools Guide →

Written by Bhavin Sheth

Honest by Design — What This Tool Does and Doesn't Do

This tool queries Google's Public DNS for records. Here is exactly what it does and does not do:

  • ✓ Queries Google's Public DNS (8.8.8.8) for DNS data returned by Google's Public DNS resolver.
  • ✓ Supports A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, TXT, NS records with TTL values.
  • ✓ Groups results by record type for easy reading.
  • ✓ Lets you copy individual records or the full report.
  • ✓ DNS queries are sent server-side, so your browser does not directly contact Google's DNS endpoint.
  • ✓ Does not query authoritative name servers directly (uses Google's recursive resolver).
  • ✓ Does not show DNSSEC validation status.
  • ✓ Does not modify DNS records — this is a read-only lookup tool.

This tool does

  • Query A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, TXT, NS records
  • Show TTL (Time To Live) for each record
  • Group results by record type
  • Copy individual records or full report
  • Query DNS server-side (your browser does not contact Google DNS directly)
  • Work with supported public domain names

This tool does not

  • Query SOA, PTR, SRV, CAA (use dig/nslookup)
  • Validate DNSSEC signatures
  • Query authoritative servers directly
  • Modify any DNS records
  • Store lookup history in the tool itself
  • Require an account or API key
Common DNS Issues

DNS Problems and How to Fix Them

Troubleshoot the most common DNS issues with these solutions.

🕐

Changes Not Showing Up

You updated a DNS record but the old value still appears.

Fix: Wait for cached DNS responses to expire according to their TTL. Different resolvers may update at different times. Lower TTL before making changes next time.

📧

Email Not Delivering

Outgoing or incoming email fails despite correct setup.

Fix: Check MX records point to your mail provider. Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC TXT records are present and correctly formatted.

🔗

Website Not Resolving

Domain returns NXDOMAIN or wrong IP address.

Fix: Check A/AAAA records point to correct IP. Verify NS records delegate to the right name servers. Ensure domain hasn't expired.

🎭

Wrong Site Loading

Domain loads a different website than expected.

Fix: Check CNAME and A records. If CNAME, verify it points to correct target. If A record, confirm the IP matches your hosting provider.

🔒

SSL Certificate Errors

Browser warns about invalid certificate despite Let's Encrypt setup.

Fix: Check CAA records allow your CA (e.g., letsencrypt.org). Verify A/CNAME point to server with the certificate installed.

🚫

Verification TXT Records Missing

Google/Office 365 domain verification fails.

Fix: Add the exact TXT record provided by the service. Allow time for the DNS record to become visible to the service, then retry verification.

Decision Guide

When to Use This DNS Lookup Tool

Use the tool for these common scenarios.

When you use it
What you learn
What to do next
Migrating to a new host
Current A record IP and TTL before changing DNS.
Lower the TTL sufficiently before migration so existing cached responses can expire before the change.
Setting up email
Current MX records and SPF/DKIM TXT records.
Add or update MX records to point to your email provider.
Troubleshooting downtime
Whether DNS still resolves to the correct IP.
If DNS is wrong, fix A/CNAME records. If DNS is correct, issue is server-side.
Verifying domain ownership
Whether the verification TXT record is published.
If missing, add the TXT record. If present, retry verification.
Competitor research
Which CDN, email provider, and DNS host competitors use.
Research their infrastructure choices for your own stack.
After DNS changes
Whether changes have propagated to Google DNS.
If the new value appears, the change is visible to Google's resolver. Other resolvers may update at different times.
Frequently Asked Questions

DNS Lookup Tool FAQs

Answers based on what this tool does and how DNS works.

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What is an A Record?

An A record lets clients resolve a hostname to an IPv4 address (like 192.0.2.1). A website may instead use an AAAA record for IPv6 or a CNAME in some configurations.

?

What is an MX Record?

The "Mail Exchanger" (MX) record specifies which mail servers accept email for a domain. It includes a priority number — lower numbers are tried first. Multiple MX records provide redundancy.

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What does TTL mean?

TTL stands for "Time To Live." It's a value in seconds that tells DNS resolvers how long to cache a record before querying again. Lower TTL = faster propagation but more queries. Higher TTL = better performance but slower updates.

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Is this tool free?

Yes, 100% free with no signup required. We apply rate limits (30/hour, 200/24h per IP) to protect server resources and prevent automated service abuse.

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DNS lookup vs Whois lookup?

DNS lookup retrieves technical records (IPs, mail servers, aliases). Whois lookup retrieves ownership info (registrar, creation date, expiration). Use DNS for infrastructure, Whois for ownership research.

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What is DNS propagation?

DNS propagation is the process of DNS changes becoming visible to different DNS resolvers. The timing depends on cached responses and configured TTL values, and different resolvers may update at different times.

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What is a CNAME record?

A CNAME or "Canonical Name" record maps a domain to another domain name as an alias. Example: www.example.com may be a CNAME pointing to example.com, which itself has an A record to an IP address.

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What are TXT records used for?

TXT records store text info. Common uses: domain ownership verification, SPF records (prevent email spoofing), DKIM (email authentication), DMARC (email policies), and Google Site Verification.