DNS Lookup: Read A, AAAA, MX, TXT and CNAME Records
Query DNS records with FindUtils. Read addresses, mail routes, aliases, and TXT values, then account for resolver caches and TTL during troubleshooting.
Quick Examples:
How to Perform a DNS Lookup
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Enter a domain name
Type or paste a domain name into the input field (e.g., example.com). You do not need to include http:// or www -- just the bare domain name. -
Select the record type
Choose the DNS record type you want to query: A for IPv4 addresses, AAAA for IPv6, MX for mail servers, CNAME for aliases, NS for name servers, TXT for verification and policy records, or SOA for zone authority data. -
Run the lookup
Click Lookup DNS to query Google's public DNS servers via DNS-over-HTTPS. Results appear instantly in a formatted table showing the record name, type, data, and TTL value. -
Review and compare results
Examine the returned records to verify your configuration. Check that A records point to the correct IP, MX records list the right mail servers with proper priorities, and TXT records contain valid SPF, DKIM, or verification tokens.
Guides and articles
Read instructions and examples for this tool.
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What Is My IP Address? Public IP and Geolocation Guide
Learn which public address a website sees, why shared networks and VPNs affect it, and how to interpret IP lookup results.
IP Addresses Explained: IPv4, IPv6, Geolocation, and Privacy
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Common Use Cases for DNS Lookup
Domain Migration & Hosting Changes
When moving a website to a new hosting provider, verify that A and CNAME records point to the new server's IP address. Check NS records to confirm the domain is using the correct authoritative name servers after a registrar transfer.
Email Delivery Troubleshooting
Diagnose email delivery failures by checking MX records for correct mail server configuration. Verify TXT records to ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC policies are properly set up and not blocking legitimate email.
Domain Verification for Third-Party Services
Services like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and SSL certificate authorities require TXT or CNAME records for domain ownership verification. Use DNS Lookup to confirm these verification records are live and correctly formatted.
Security Auditing & Reconnaissance
Security professionals inspect DNS records to map a domain's infrastructure, identify hosting providers, and check for misconfigurations. Pair with the DNS Security Scanner for a deeper analysis of DNSSEC status and potential vulnerabilities.
Why Use DNS Lookup?
DNS records control how your domain resolves to servers, handles email delivery, and verifies ownership. Misconfigurations in A MX, or TXT records can take your website offline, block incoming email, or prevent domain verification for services like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. A reliable DNS lookup tool lets you inspect records in seconds and catch problems before they affect your users. Whether you are migrating a domain to a new host, troubleshooting email delivery failures, or verifying SPF and DKIM records for email authentication, DNS Lookup gives you the raw data you need without installing command-line tools. Every query runs through Google's DNS-over-HTTPS API directly from your browser, so results reflect the global public DNS view rather than your local resolver cache.
DNS Lookup is a browser-based tool that queries the Domain Name System to retrieve An AAAA, MX, CNAME, NS, TXT, and SOA records for any domain. Every query runs through Google's public DNS-over-HTTPS API directly from your browser, giving you the same globally propagated view that end users see worldwide. No command-line tools, no installation, no signup -- just type a domain, select a record type, and get results in seconds.
System administrators and DevOps engineers use DNS Lookup to verify hosting configurations, troubleshoot DNS propagation after record changes, and confirm that name server delegations are correct. Email administrators rely on MX and TXT record queries to diagnose delivery issues caused by missing SPF records, broken DKIM signatures, or misconfigured DMARC policies. For security professionals, DNS records reveal the infrastructure behind a domain -- pair this tool with the DNS Security Scanner to check DNSSEC status, or the SSL Certificate Checker to verify that HTTPS is properly configured.
DNS Lookup works well alongside other FindUtils network and security tools. Use the IP Address Lookup to geolocate the IPs returned in A records, the Email Validator to test addresses on domains whose MX records you have verified, or the Security Headers Analyzer to audit the HTTP security posture of the servers your DNS points to. All queries are private -- FindUtils does not log, store, or track the domains you look up.
How it compares
Command-line tools like nslookup and dig are powerful but require terminal access and familiarity with their syntax. FindUtils DNS Lookup provides the same core data in a clean web interface that works on any device with a browser. Results are displayed in a formatted table with record type, data, and TTL columns, making it easy to scan and compare without parsing raw output.
Compared to other online DNS lookup tools, FindUtils queries Google's DNS-over-HTTPS endpoint directly from your browser rather than routing requests through a backend server. This means your domain queries never touch our infrastructure, providing stronger privacy than tools that proxy requests through their own servers. The tool is available with no usage limits, no accounts -- making it ideal for quick checks during development, migrations, and security audits.
Tips for Effective DNS Lookups
- Always check both A and AAAA records to ensure your domain resolves correctly for IPv4 and IPv6 clients.
- After changing DNS records at your registrar, wait a few minutes and then use this tool to verify the changes have propagated to Google's public DNS.
- When troubleshooting email, check MX, TXT (for SPF), and CNAME (for DKIM) records together -- all three must be correct for reliable email delivery.
- Lower your TTL values to 300 seconds (5 minutes) before making DNS changes so updates propagate faster. Raise them back afterward to reduce query load.
- Use the quick examples feature to test common domains and familiarize yourself with typical DNS record structures before inspecting your own domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DNS lookup?
A DNS lookup queries the Domain Name System to find the records associated with a domain name. These records map domain names to IP addresses (A/AAAA), mail servers (MX), name servers (NS), and other configuration data (TXT, CNAME, SOA).
What DNS record types can I look up?
This tool supports An AAAA, MX, CNAME, NS, TXT, and SOA record types. A records map to IPv4 addresses, AAAA to IPv6, MX to mail servers, CNAME to domain aliases, NS to authoritative name servers, TXT for verification and policy data, and SOA for zone authority information.
How do I check MX records for email troubleshooting?
Enter your domain and select the MX record type. The results show the mail servers responsible for receiving email for your domain, along with their priority values. Lower priority numbers indicate preferred servers. Missing or incorrect MX records are the most common cause of email delivery failures.
Does this DNS lookup tool require a signup?
No. FindUtils DNS Lookup works with no signup, no rate limits. You can query unlimited domains and record types without any restrictions.
Why do my DNS records look different from what my registrar shows?
This tool queries Google's public DNS servers, which reflect the globally propagated state of your records. Your registrar shows what is configured, but propagation can take up to 48 hours. If you recently changed records, the global view may lag behind your registrar's panel.
What is a TXT record used for?
TXT records store text-based data for various purposes: SPF records for email authentication, DKIM signatures for email signing, domain verification tokens for services like Google Workspace, and DMARC policies for email security. Use the TXT record lookup to verify these are configured correctly.
Can I check DNS propagation with this tool?
This tool queries Google's public DNS, which gives you the globally propagated view. If your recently changed records show the new values here, propagation is complete for most users worldwide. For region-specific propagation checks, pair this with multiple DNS resolver tests.
What does TTL mean in DNS results?
TTL (Time to Live) is measured in seconds and tells DNS resolvers how long to cache a record before re-querying. A TTL of 3600 means the record is cached for one hour. Lower TTL values mean faster propagation of changes but more DNS queries to your authoritative servers.
How is this different from the nslookup command?
This tool provides the same core functionality as the nslookup or dig command-line utilities but runs entirely in your browser. No terminal access or installation is needed. Results are formatted in a clean table for easy reading, and you can quickly switch between record types with one click.
Is my DNS query data private?
Yes. Queries are sent directly from your browser to Google's DNS-over-HTTPS API. FindUtils does not log, store, or track your domain lookups. No data passes through our servers.