NetCheck Tools

DNS Lookup

Enter a domain name to query its A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME, SOA and CAA records — or enter an IP address to run a reverse DNS lookup.

What DNS records tell you

Every domain publishes a set of DNS records that control where its traffic goes. A and AAAA records map the name to IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, MX records route email, TXT records carry verification and email-security data (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), NS records delegate the zone to name servers, CNAME records alias one name to another, SOA holds zone administration data and CAA restricts which certificate authorities may issue SSL certificates for the domain.

When to run a DNS lookup

  • After changing DNS records, to confirm the new values are live
  • When a website is unreachable and you suspect a DNS problem
  • When debugging email delivery (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC records)
  • Before a migration, to document the current zone

If your lookups feel slow rather than wrong, read our guide on how to fix slow DNS lookups.

Frequently asked questions

›What is a DNS lookup?

A DNS lookup queries the Domain Name System to translate a domain name like example.com into machine-readable records: IP addresses (A/AAAA), mail servers (MX), text data (TXT), name servers (NS) and more. It is the first step of almost every connection on the internet.

›Which DNS record types does this tool check?

The tool queries A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME, SOA and CAA records in a single request. If you enter an IP address instead of a domain, it automatically performs a reverse DNS (PTR) lookup.

›Why does a record type show “No records found”?

Not every domain defines every record type. For example, many domains have no CAA record, and CNAME records never exist at a domain apex that also has other records. “No records found” simply means the DNS zone does not publish that type for the name you queried.

›Why do I see different results than my own computer?

DNS answers are cached at many levels (your OS, router and ISP resolver). This tool queries from our servers, so it can differ from your local cache until old TTLs expire — which makes it ideal for checking what the rest of the world currently sees.

Related tools

Reverse DNS Lookup

Find the hostname (PTR record) behind an IP address.

SSL Checker

Inspect a site's SSL certificate and expiration date.

Port Checker

Test whether a TCP port is open on a public host.