DNS Lookup Tool

Query DNS records for any domain — A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME, SOA, and more. Verify email configuration (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), check propagation after DNS changes, investigate domain ownership via WHOIS, and troubleshoot connectivity issues. Results are fetched from live DNS resolvers in real time.

Select a record type, enter a domain, and click Lookup.

DNS Record Types

AMaps domain to an IPv4 address (e.g. 203.0.113.1)
AAAAMaps domain to an IPv6 address
MXMail server — routes email for the domain
TXTText records — SPF, DKIM, domain verification
NSName servers — authoritative resolvers for the domain
CNAMEAlias — points one domain to another
SOAStart of Authority — zone primary info & TTL
PTRReverse DNS — maps IP back to hostname

Email Security Records

Proper email deliverability requires three TXT-based security records:

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

Specifies which mail servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain. Prevents spoofing.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

Adds a cryptographic signature to outgoing mail that receivers can verify using a public key in DNS.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication)

Instructs receivers on how to handle emails failing SPF/DKIM — reject, quarantine, or report.

DNS Troubleshooting Tips

  • DNS changes propagate globally in 0–48 hours depending on the record's TTL value
  • Lower TTL (e.g. 300s) before migrations so changes propagate faster
  • Check NS records first — wrong nameservers mean all other records are ignored
  • MX records must point to a hostname, never directly to an IP address
  • CNAME records cannot be used on the root domain (use ALIAS/ANAME instead)
  • Each domain should have only one SPF TXT record — duplicates cause mail failures

DNS Lookup Use Cases

Website Migration

Verify A record propagation after moving to a new server or hosting provider.

Email Setup

Confirm MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured.

Security Audit

Check for missing DMARC or weak SPF policies that allow email spoofing.

DNS Troubleshooting

Identify propagation delays or misconfigured records causing site downtime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How DNS Powers the Internet Infrastructure

The Domain Name System is the invisible infrastructure that makes the internet usable. Every time you type a URL, send an email, or connect to an API, DNS translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers use to route traffic. This hierarchical, distributed database — spanning root servers, TLD nameservers, and authoritative resolvers — handles trillions of queries daily with remarkable reliability. Understanding DNS is essential for developers, system administrators, and security professionals who need to configure domains, troubleshoot connectivity, and secure email delivery.

Email Security Through DNS Records

Email deliverability depends on three critical DNS records working together. SPF (Sender Policy Framework) declares which mail servers are authorised to send email for your domain, preventing spoofing. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a cryptographic signature to outgoing messages that receivers verify using a public key published in DNS. DMARC instructs receiving servers on how to handle messages failing SPF or DKIM checks — reject, quarantine, or report. Without all three properly configured, your emails risk landing in spam folders or being rejected entirely. Our DNS lookup tool lets you verify all three records instantly.

DNS Propagation and Migration

DNS propagation — the time it takes for record changes to spread globally — is governed by TTL (Time To Live) values. Before a migration, lower your TTL to 300 seconds so changes propagate within minutes rather than hours. After confirming the migration is successful, raise TTL back to 3600 or higher to reduce query load. Our tool queries live resolvers in real time, letting you verify changes have propagated. For related network tools, check the IP Address Lookup and Who's Hosting This. Test API connectivity with the API Request Builder. Explore all tools on the homepage.