DNS Lookup

About this tool

DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet's address book: it translates human-readable domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to route traffic. A DNS lookup queries one or more of the record types stored for a domain. Common types include A (IPv4 address), AAAA (IPv6 address), CNAME (alias to another domain), MX (mail server), NS (authoritative name servers), TXT (arbitrary text—used for SPF, DKIM, and domain verification), and SOA (authoritative zone information). This tool queries Google Public DNS over HTTPS (DNS-over-HTTPS) and displays the results for any domain and record type.

How to use

1. 1Type a domain name (e.g. example.com) into the input field — no http:// prefix needed.
2. 2Choose the DNS record type: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT, or SOA.
3. 3Click "Lookup" — results are fetched from Google Public DNS over HTTPS.
4. 4Click the copy icon next to any record to copy its value.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important DNS record types?

A maps a domain to an IPv4 address. AAAA maps to an IPv6 address. CNAME creates an alias from one hostname to another. MX specifies which server handles email for a domain. NS lists the authoritative name servers. TXT stores text—commonly used for SPF (email authorization), DKIM (email signing), and domain ownership verification. SOA contains zone authority information.

What is TTL in DNS?

TTL (Time To Live) is the number of seconds a resolver may cache a record before fetching it again. A TTL of 300 = 5 minutes. Low TTL (60–300s) allows faster propagation when you change records; high TTL (3600–86400s) reduces DNS query load. If you're about to change a record, lower its TTL 24 hours in advance.

Why do DNS changes take time to propagate?

Because resolvers around the world cache records for their full TTL. After you update a record, resolvers that cached the old value keep serving it until their TTL expires. Full global propagation typically takes minutes to a few hours for short TTLs, and up to 48 hours for records with TTL = 86400.

What is the difference between a CNAME and an A record?

An A record directly maps a hostname to an IP address. A CNAME creates an alias that points to another hostname, which is then resolved to an IP. For example, www.example.com CNAME → example.com → A 93.184.216.34. CNAMEs are useful when hosting on platforms with dynamic IPs (like CDNs)—all CNAMEs update automatically when the target A record changes.