DNS Record Lookup
Check A, MX, CNAME records. Simple display.
▶About this tool
This tool checks DNS records in one click. Three features: 1) Enter domain and record type for A, MX, CNAME, TXT display, 2) Fetches via DNS over HTTPS, 3) Useful for DNS verification, MX for email, CNAME for subdomains.
Tool interface
Understanding DNS (Domain Name System) and Common Records
The Domain Name System (DNS) is often described as the "phonebook of the internet."
It translates human-readable, memorable domain names (like example.com) into the machine-readable IP addresses (like 192.0.2.1) that computers and routers use to connect with each other. This translation process is called DNS resolution.
What is DNS Propagation and Why Does It Take Time?
When you buy a new domain or change web hosts and update your Nameservers (NS), you are often told to "wait up to 24-48 hours for the changes to take effect globally." This delay is known as DNS Propagation.
To speed up surfing the web, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and local network routers cache (temporarily store) your DNS records. They hold onto this data for a set period defined by the TTL (Time To Live) value. Therefore, when you change a record on your authoritative nameserver, the rest of the world won't see the new IP address until their local cache expires and they query the name servers again. Our DNS Check tool helps you bypass the browser cache and see the currently resolved IP address from your local network's perspective, aiding in propagation debugging.
Core DNS Record Types You Should Know
DNS isn't just for website IPs. It uses various "records" to handle different types of routing. Here are the most critical ones you'll encounter during troubleshooting:
| Record Type | Purpose & Usage | Example Value |
|---|---|---|
| A (Address) | The most fundamental record. It maps a domain name to a standard 32-bit IPv4 address, directing browsers to the correct web server. | 192.0.2.1 |
| AAAA (Quad-A) | Functions identically to an A record but maps the domain to a newer, 128-bit IPv6 address. | 2001:db8::1 |
| MX (Mail Exchange) | Directs email sent to your domain to the correct mail servers. Requires priority numbers to determine the order of server usage. | 10 mail.example.com. |
| CNAME (Canonical) | Aliases one name to another. Often used to map subdomains (like `www`) to the root domain, avoiding duplicate IP address management. | example.com. |
| TXT (Text) | Holds arbitrary text data. Extensively used today for domain ownership verification and email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). | "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all" |
Emails Going to Spam? Check Your SPF/TXT Records
One of the most common issues developers face when setting up domains for SaaS applications is transactional emails landing in recipients' spam folders. More often than not, this is due to a missing or misconfigured Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record.
SPF is a string added to your DNS as a TXT record. It publicly declares which IP addresses and third-party services (like SendGrid or AWS SES) are officially authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain.
You can use our DNS Check tool to look up your domain's TXT records and verify that your SPF declaration (starting with v=spf1) is correctly published and syntactically valid to prevent email spoofing and improve deliverability.
Usage
- Enter domain
- Select record type (A, MX, CNAME, TXT)
- DNS records are displayed. Fetched via DNS over HTTPS