A DNS lookup shows the records that tell the internet where a domain lives. Enter a domain and this tool returns its A and AAAA records (the server addresses), MX (the mail servers), TXT (verification and email rules), NS (the nameservers), CNAME and SOA records in one list. It is free and needs no signup.
How to use the DNS lookup
- 1Type the domain, such as example.com. The tool strips https:// and www., so a pasted URL works.
- 2Press Check, or hit Enter.
- 3Read each record type the domain has. Types with no records are left out, so a short list is normal.
- 4Change a record at your DNS host, wait a few minutes, and check again to see the new value.
When to use it
- You moved your website to a new host and want to see if the domain points at the new server yet.
- Email stopped arriving and you want to check the MX records.
- A tool such as Google Search Console asks you to add a TXT record, and you want to confirm it is live.
- You are taking over a client's site and need to know who runs their DNS.
Worked example
A site on a modern host
We looked up our own domain.
- URL to check
- searchblueprint.io
- A
- 216.150.1.65, 216.150.16.65
- MX
- 10 inbound-smtp.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com
- TXT
- google-site-verification=QV8Nex...
- NS
- ns1.vercel-dns.com, ns2.vercel-dns.com
- SOA
- ns1.vercel-dns.com hostmaster.nsone.net (serial 1783698702)
Two A records mean two server addresses answer for the site. The NS records show Vercel runs the DNS, so any change is made there. The MX record sends mail to Amazon's email service, and the TXT record is the Search Console verification. There is no AAAA record, so the site has no IPv6 address.
The record types it checks
| Record | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| A | The IPv4 address the domain points to |
| AAAA | The IPv6 address the domain points to |
| MX | The mail servers that accept email for the domain, with their priority number |
| TXT | Free text: domain verification codes, SPF email rules and similar |
| NS | The nameservers that hold the domain's DNS, which tells you where to edit it |
| CNAME | An alias that points the name at another domain |
| SOA | The main nameserver, the admin contact and the zone's serial number |
Made by SearchBlueprint
This lookup is free with no signup. SearchBlueprint, who make it, sell SEO planning for websites: the searches a site could be found for and the page each one belongs on.
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