DNS Lookup Tool | Check DNS Records for Any Domain
Use the DNS lookup tool to find the IP address of any domain name. The lookup results will include the IP addresses in the DNS records received from the servers.
What is a DNS lookup?
A DNS lookup is a tool that involves the process of converting domain names to IP addresses. The domain name system makes these domain-to-IP conversions. But sometimes, users want to know various information about a domain. They want to check DNS records or know a domain name's IP address.
In these cases, the DNS lookup tool can provide information to the user.
How does DNS work?
The domain name system (DNS) resolves a domain name to an IP address through a DNS server. Think of DNS as a domain lookup, website IP checker, or IP finder. It searches domains or websites to produce related IP addresses. Essentially, it converts domain names to IP addresses for the user.
Typical DNS queries are sent through four different server types. They are:
- the DNS resolver (also known as the precursor),
- the root nameserver,
- the TLD nameserver, and
- the authoritative nameserver.
The domain name system recursor gets the query. Then, it communicates with other domain name system servers to get the correct IP address.
After locating it, the domain name system recursor sends the query to the three other domain name system servers. Next, the root server, designated as the Internet’s domain name system root zone, responds to requests sent in the root zone. As a response, it will return a list of authoritative nameservers that correspond with TLDs.
The TLD nameserver will then store the second-level domain IP address and release the website’s IP address. The query gets sent to the domain’s nameserver. Finally, the authoritative nameserver can respond to the original domain name system query.
What is DNS lookup used for?
Like other tools, such as a DNS TXT record lookup and TTL lookup, this lookup tool is an important part of your DNS toolbox. DNS record lookups help to translate IP addresses and domain names. With the DNS lookup tool, users can find the IP address of a domain name and other information related to domains.
Users can also perform a reverse DNS lookup. This uses pointer records to query an IP address to find a hostname. It essentially finds the "name" of IP addresses. Some IP addresses will not return a domain name if multiple domains are associated with a given IP address.
Do a reverse IP lookup to check DNS and find your IP's domain. You can also find your own IP. The What Is My IP homepage shows you your IP along with all the related IP details.
How does a DNS lookup work?
The forward lookup, or simple DNS lookup, is the most commonly used approach to DNS. The forward approach to DNS is simply finding out the IP address of a domain.
People tend to find it difficult to remember long strings of numbers. Instead, it's easier to remember a domain name that uses words, like 'google.com' rather than '8.8.4.4.'
However, electronic devices use streams of 1s and 0s to communicate. Unique numeric identification is the only way for one computer to communicate with another. The method of identification used on the Internet is IP addresses.
Here are the simple steps for domain name system resolution.
- A user enters a domain name into their Internet browser, like www.whatismyip.com.
- The computer sends the domain name as a DNS request to the user's Internet service provider (ISP).
- The ISP determines if it has the IP address associated with that name.
- If it does not, the ISP forwards the request to other providers to lookup DNS records containing the data.
- Once the record is found, the IP address of the domain is returned to the user.
- Now, the user's computer can communicate directly with the server.
How to perform a DNS lookup
To use the DNS lookup command, enter the domain URL into the DNS lookup tool above. Then, select Lookup or press Enter. The DNS tracker will return the IPv4 address records for a domain in a domain lookup.
You can also use the nslookup command to as a DNS lookup command tool to check nameservers for domains. Do this rather than using the full DNS lookup command. Furthermore, you can use the DNS checker above to perform an in-site DNS lookup.
To do a domain name system lookup in a Windows computer, go to Start, then Run, and type command to open the command prompt. Type nslookup as the DNS lookup command and hit Enter. Your search will bring back information about your local DNS default server and IP address.
If you're using a Mac computer, go to the Finder menu in the upper right corner and click Go. Find Utilities, then select Terminal. In the pop-up box, type nslookup followed by the IP address or domain you want to query, and then hit Enter. Your search will return the DNS server and IP address of the information you entered.
If you want to know how to look up a domain to find the owner, there are other tools available. Use a WHOIS Domain Lookup or the WHOIS IP Lookup tool once you have a domain's IP address. The WHOIS lookup works to check domain owners and identifies the owners of various IP addresses.
What are DNS records?
DNS records are essentially the data components of the domain name system. They keep the Internet functioning properly, as each website has DNS records that can be accessed through a lookup. These records exist on DNS servers.
These records help map between domain names and IPs, include important data like IPs or record values, and host the record's time-to-live. This time indicates how long a DNS resolver should cache the DNS record before a refresh.
What DNS record types can you look up?
The domain name system includes many record types, each serving a distinct purpose. However, not all of them are commonly used. The DNS lookup tool above checks the most common record types.
You can check all DNS records simultaneously or select just one to get the necessary details. Below is a list of the DNS record types a user can look up using the tool.
- A records. A records are the most common DNS record type. They translate domain names into IP addresses. By specifying an A record, domain owners can ensure their site's ease of acccess.
- AAAA records. AAAA records map domain names to IPv6 addresses. This allows users to connect to servers using the newer IP protocol.
- NS records. NS (nameserver) records identify the authoritative nameservers for a domain. They allow DNS resolvers to determine which servers are responsible for domain-related queries.
- MX records. MX (Mail Exchange) records specify the mail server responsible for handling a domain's email.
- TXT records. TXT (text) records contain textual information about a domain name. They also provide additional information to various services, like email servers and spam filters.
- CNAME records. CNAME (canonical name) records create aliases for domain names. They map one domain to another to improve user access.
Why is DNS lookup important?
Using a DNS record lookup tool is important because it helps both users and webmasters online. Specifically, it can provide domain name resolution, access to the Internet, and resource mapping. It even security boosts like network troubleshooting and spam prevention.
In short, DNS lookups are critical for resolving domain names to IPs, ensuring website availability, and improving security. Use the DNS lookup tool to provide the best online experience.
Advanced DNS lookup concepts
The domain name system is essential, but it can also be complex. For those who are more familiar with the system or want to expand their knowledge in more advanced topics, continue reading below. You can learn about DNS reliability and security, safety specifications, and more.
DNS caching
In DNS caching, the resolvers temporarily store the DNS query results to reduce server latency. Caching reduces the need to continue asking authoritative DNS servers for information. Ultimately, it speeds up the DNS lookup process and improves the efficiency of web browsing.
However, this can go awry in DNS cache poisoning attacks. In these attacks, a hacker introduces corrupt DNS data into the DNS resolver cache. This directs users from a legitimate and safe website to a fraudulent one.
DNS amplification attacks
A DNS amplification attack is a type of DDoS attack. In it, an attacker exploits DNS servers to overload a system with traffic. The attacker sends DNS queries to multiple servers, prompting excessive DNS response data to the victim's address. This, consequently, overwhelms the victim's network and can impact its ability to function.
DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions)
DNSSEC, or Domain Name System Security Extensions, is a set of specifications for securing information used in IP networks. It cannot protect against all attacks. However, it does add a layer of security in DNS lookups by digitally signing data to ensure validity. These specs help prevent cache poisoning and other DNS attacks.
EDNS (Extension Mechanisms for DNS)
EDNS, or Extension Mechanisms for DNS, is a specification for expanding the parameters of the DNS protocol. Its goal is to increase its functionality. It allows the domain name system to carry more information in larger messages. This improves the overall performance of DNS and supports DNSSEC.
Frequently asked questions
What is DNS lookup used for?
Users utilize the domain name system lookup to translate domain names into IP addresses.
How does DNS lookup work with multiple domains?
When performing domain name system lookups for multiple domains, each domain is resolved on its own. The DNS resolver queries the server for each domain separately, retrieving each IP like in a singular event lookup.
Can I perform a DNS lookup on my own website?
Yes, you can perform a DNS lookup on your own website. It allows website owners to verify that DNS records are correctly propagated across the Internet.
What are some common DNS lookup errors?
Some common DNS lookup errors include:
- NXDOMAIN (Non-Existent Domain), where the domain name does not exist
- SERVFAIL (Server Failure), where the server encounters an internal failure while processing the request
- Timeout, where the DNS request times out because the server did not respond in time
How often should I perform a DNS lookup?
How often you should perform a DNS lookup depends on your needs. You can perform a lookup monthly to ensure you correctly set your records. However, we generally recommend that all users perform a lookup after updating DNS records. Additionally, users should do one when troubleshooting network issues.