DNS Lookup
Instantly query any DNS record for any domain — A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME, SOA, CAA and more. Free online DNS lookup tool.
What Is a DNS Lookup?
A DNS lookup is the process of querying the Domain Name System to retrieve records associated with a domain name. Every domain on the internet relies on DNS to translate human-readable names like example.com into the IP addresses, mail servers, and configuration data that computers use to communicate. Running a DNS lookup lets you see exactly what records a domain publishes — in real time, directly from authoritative nameservers.
This free online DNS lookup tool supports every major record type. Enter any domain, choose a record type (or leave it on "Any" to see all records at once), and get instant results. Common uses include verifying a new DNS configuration after moving to a different host, confirming that an MX record points to the correct mail server, checking whether a TXT record for SPF or DMARC is properly published, and troubleshooting email delivery or website connectivity problems.
Unlike the nslookup command-line tool built into Windows, macOS, and Linux, this online DNS lookup runs queries from multiple geographic locations and shows you the raw DNS response including TTL values, record class, and data — without requiring any software installation.
DNS Record Types Explained
| Type | Purpose | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| A | Maps domain to IPv4 address | Website IP address |
| AAAA | Maps domain to IPv6 address | IPv6 hosting |
| MX | Identifies mail servers | Email delivery routing |
| TXT | Arbitrary text data | SPF, DMARC, DKIM, site verification |
| NS | Lists authoritative nameservers | DNS hosting provider |
| CNAME | Alias to another domain | www subdomain, CDN routing |
| SOA | Zone authority information | Serial number, refresh intervals |
| CAA | Restricts SSL certificate issuers | Limit which CAs can issue certs |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I do a DNS lookup online?
Enter the domain name in the field above, select the record type you want to query (or choose "Any" for all records), and click Look Up. Results are returned directly from authoritative DNS nameservers in under a second. No account, login, or software installation is required — this free online DNS lookup tool works in any browser.
What is the difference between this DNS lookup tool and the nslookup command?
The nslookup command is a built-in CLI tool available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It queries DNS using your local network's resolver, so results may reflect cached or ISP-filtered data. This online DNS lookup queries DNS from our servers — bypassing your local cache and resolver — giving you a more accurate picture of what DNS returns globally. It also supports all record types and displays structured results in a readable format without memorising command syntax.
What is a DNS record lookup?
A DNS record lookup queries the Domain Name System to retrieve one or more DNS records associated with a domain name. Unlike single-type lookups that query a specific record type (like A or MX), a full DNS record lookup can retrieve multiple record types at once — such as A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, and CNAME — giving you a comprehensive view of a domain's DNS configuration in a single query.
Why do different DNS lookup tools return different results?
DNS resolvers cache records for the duration of their TTL. If you query a resolver that cached the record before a change was made, you get the old value. Additionally, some DNS providers use Anycast or geographic routing to serve different IP addresses to users in different regions (for CDN or load balancing purposes). DNS propagation — the process of all resolvers refreshing their caches — can take minutes to hours depending on the record's TTL.
What does NXDOMAIN mean in a DNS lookup?
NXDOMAIN (Non-Existent Domain) is a DNS response code indicating that the queried domain name does not exist in the DNS. It is returned by the authoritative nameserver when no records of any type are found for the domain. NXDOMAIN is different from an empty answer — an empty answer means the domain exists but has no records of the requested type, while NXDOMAIN means the domain itself does not exist.
What is the difference between authoritative and non-authoritative DNS answers?
An authoritative answer comes directly from the nameserver that hosts the DNS zone for the domain — it is the definitive source of truth. A non-authoritative (or cached) answer comes from a recursive resolver that previously looked up the record and stored it temporarily according to the record's TTL. Non-authoritative answers may be slightly out of date if a record was recently changed and the cache has not expired.