What is a DNS lookup?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the internet's address book. When you type
a domain like example.com, DNS translates it into the IP
addresses and service records computers actually use to connect. A lookup
asks a resolver for one specific kind of record.
Common record types
- A / AAAA - the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses a name points to.
- MX - mail servers that accept email for the domain.
- TXT - free-form text, often SPF, DKIM, and domain verification.
- CNAME - an alias pointing one name at another.
- NS - the authoritative nameservers for the domain.
- SOA - the "start of authority" record with zone metadata.
- CAA - which certificate authorities may issue certs for the domain.
- PTR - reverse DNS: the hostname an IP address maps back to.
How this works
Unlike most of our tools, this lookup runs on our server (a serverless function), because browsers can't make raw DNS queries. We forward only the name and record type you enter to a public resolver and return the result. Nothing is stored.