Free DNS Lookup Tool — Check A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS & TXT Records Online

What Is a DNS Lookup?

A DNS lookup (Domain Name System lookup) is the process of querying DNS servers to retrieve the records associated with a specific domain name. These records translate human-readable domain names — like example.com — into IP addresses and other critical routing information that computers use to communicate across the internet.

Our free DNS lookup tool lets you instantly query and view all DNS records for any domain, including A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT, and SOA records — all from your browser with no software to install.

Why DNS Records Matter for SEO & Website Performance

DNS is the backbone of the internet. Misconfigured DNS records can cause website downtime, email delivery failures, and poor search engine rankings. Understanding and monitoring your DNS records is essential for:

• Website availability — Incorrect A or AAAA records mean your site won't load
• Email deliverability — MX and TXT records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) control whether your emails reach inboxes or land in spam
• SEO health — Search engines can't index a site they can't reach; DNS misconfigurations hurt crawlability
• Security — TXT records carry SPF and DMARC policies that protect against email spoofing
• CDN & load balancing — CNAME records route traffic through CDNs for faster page loads

Types of DNS Records Explained

A Record (Address Record)

Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address. This is the most fundamental DNS record — it tells browsers which server to connect to when someone types your domain.

AAAA Record (IPv6 Address Record)

The IPv6 equivalent of an A record. As the internet transitions to IPv6, having AAAA records ensures your site is accessible on modern networks.

CNAME Record (Canonical Name)

Creates an alias from one domain name to another. Commonly used to point subdomains (like www) to a primary domain or to route traffic through a CDN.

MX Record (Mail Exchange)

Specifies the mail servers responsible for receiving email for your domain. Priority values determine which server is tried first.

NS Record (Name Server)

Identifies the authoritative name servers for your domain — the servers that hold the definitive DNS records.

TXT Record (Text)

Stores arbitrary text data, commonly used for SPF records, DKIM signatures, DMARC policies, and domain verification (Google Search Console, etc.).

SOA Record (Start of Authority)

Contains administrative information about the DNS zone, including the primary name server, the responsible party's email, and zone transfer timing parameters.

How to Use Our DNS Lookup Tool

1. Enter the domain name you want to check (e.g., example.com)
2. Click the lookup button
3. Review the complete list of DNS records returned
4. Check for misconfigurations or missing records

Common Use Cases

• Troubleshooting website issues — Verify A records point to the correct server
• Email setup verification — Confirm MX records and SPF/DKIM/DMARC TXT records
• Domain migration — Check DNS propagation after switching hosting providers
• Security audits — Ensure proper email authentication records are in place
• Competitive research — See what hosting, CDN, and email providers a competitor uses

DNS Lookup Best Practices

• Always verify DNS records after making changes — propagation can take up to 48 hours
• Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC TXT records to protect your domain from email spoofing
• Use low TTL values during migrations, then increase them once stable
• Keep NS records consistent — mismatched name servers cause resolution failures
• Monitor DNS regularly to catch unauthorized changes early

Related SEO Tools

Get a complete picture of your domain's health with these related tools:

• IP Lookup — Get geolocation and ISP details for any IP address
• SSL Lookup — Verify your SSL certificate details and expiration
• Whois Lookup — Check domain registration and ownership information
• Reverse IP Lookup — Find domains hosted on the same IP address
• Ping Tool — Test server response time and availability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DNS lookup used for?

A DNS lookup retrieves the DNS records for a domain, showing you the IP addresses, mail servers, name servers, and other configuration data associated with it. It's used for troubleshooting, verification, and security auditing.

How long does DNS propagation take?

DNS propagation typically takes 15 minutes to 48 hours, depending on the TTL (Time to Live) value set on the records and how quickly ISPs around the world update their DNS caches.

Why are my DNS records not showing up?

Records may not appear if the domain is newly registered, DNS changes haven't propagated yet, or the records were deleted or misconfigured. Try checking again after a few hours.

What's the difference between A and AAAA records?

A records point to IPv4 addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1), while AAAA records point to IPv6 addresses (e.g., 2001:db8::1). Both serve the same purpose — mapping a domain to a server — but use different IP versions.

Can I check DNS records for any domain?

Yes. DNS records are public information. You can look up the DNS records for any domain name using our free tool.