What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. Think of it as the internet's phonebook. When you type a human-readable domain name like google.com into your browser, your computer needs to find its actual, numerical IP address (like 172.217.14.228) to connect to the server. DNS handles this translation.
Our tool allows you to look up all the public DNS records for any domain, which is essential for troubleshooting website issues, setting up email, or just understanding how a domain is configured.
Common DNS Record Types Explained
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A
Address Record — Points a domain or subdomain to a specific IPv4 address (e.g.,
123.45.67.89). -
AAAA
IPv6 Address Record — Similar to an A record, but points to a more modern IPv6 address.
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CNAME
Canonical Name Record — Points one domain or subdomain to another domain name instead of an IP address. Used to alias one name to another.
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MX
Mail Exchanger Record — Specifies which mail servers accept email for the domain. Includes a priority number for failover ordering.
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TXT
Text Record — General-purpose record for arbitrary text. Commonly used for email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and domain ownership verification with services like Google Search Console.
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NS
Name Server Record — Specifies which DNS servers are the authoritative servers for the domain.
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SOA
Start of Authority Record — Contains administrative information about the domain, including the primary name server, administrator email, and zone refresh timers.