Type a domain name above and click Analyze to get started.
Look Up DNS Records for Any Domain
Enter a domain name above to query its complete DNS configuration in real time. Our DNS Lookup Tool checks seven record types simultaneously — A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME, and SOA — using Cloudflare’s DNS-over-HTTPS resolver for fast, reliable, and private results.
Understanding DNS Records
DNS (Domain Name System) is the infrastructure that translates human-readable domain names into the IP addresses and server configurations that computers need to route traffic. Every domain has a set of DNS records that control where its website is hosted, how email is delivered, and what security protocols are in place.
A Records map a domain name to an IPv4 address. This is the most fundamental DNS record — it tells browsers which server to contact when someone visits the domain. Multiple A records can point to different servers for load balancing.
AAAA Records serve the same purpose as A records but for IPv6 addresses. As the internet transitions to IPv6, having AAAA records indicates a modern, forward-looking infrastructure.
MX Records (Mail Exchange) specify which servers handle email for the domain. The priority value determines which server receives email first. If you see MX records pointing to Google (aspmx.l.google.com) or Microsoft (outlook.com), the domain uses Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for email.
NS Records (Nameserver) identify which DNS servers are authoritative for the domain. Common nameserver providers include Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, Google Cloud DNS, and registrar-provided nameservers.
TXT Records store arbitrary text data and serve multiple purposes. The most important TXT records are SPF records (which authorize email senders), DKIM records (which verify email authenticity), and domain verification records for services like Google Search Console and Microsoft 365.
CNAME Records (Canonical Name) create aliases that point one domain name to another. They’re commonly used for subdomains — for example, pointing “www” to the root domain, or pointing “blog” to a hosting platform.
SOA Records (Start of Authority) contain administrative information about the DNS zone, including the primary nameserver, the email of the domain administrator, and timing parameters for DNS record refresh intervals.
Common Use Cases
Troubleshooting email delivery issues is one of the most common reasons to check DNS records. If emails aren’t arriving, the MX records may be misconfigured or missing entirely. Verifying SPF and DKIM records in the TXT records helps diagnose authentication failures that cause emails to land in spam.
Web developers check A records and CNAME records when migrating a website to a new host or setting up a CDN. Pointing DNS to the wrong IP address is one of the most common causes of website downtime after a hosting change.
Security audits start with DNS. Our SSL Certificate Checker verifies HTTPS encryption, while the Domain Reputation Checker uses DNS data to assess email authentication and overall domain health. For historical context, the Domain Age Checker reveals how long a domain has been registered.
