Free DNS Lookup Tool
Instantly check DNS records (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS) for any domain — free dnslookup and MX lookup online
DNS Record Types — Complete Guide
A Record
Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.1.1). This is the most common DNS record and directs web traffic to your server.
AAAA Record
Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address. IPv6 is the modern standard with a much larger address space than IPv4.
CNAME Record
Alias that points one domain name to another (the canonical name). Used for subdomains like www.example.com → example.com.
MX Record
Specifies the mail servers that handle email for the domain. Lower priority numbers are tried first.
TXT Record
Stores arbitrary text data. Widely used for domain ownership verification (Google, Microsoft), SPF (anti-spam), and DKIM email authentication.
NS Record
Lists the authoritative name servers for the domain. These are the servers that hold the official DNS records.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does DNS propagation take?
DNS changes typically propagate within a few hours, but can take up to 24-48 hours globally. This depends on the TTL (Time To Live) setting on the record. Set a low TTL (e.g., 300 seconds) before making changes to speed up propagation.
Why do I see multiple A records?
Multiple A records provide redundancy and load balancing. DNS resolvers distribute requests across the IP addresses, which improves availability and performance.
What is TTL in DNS?
TTL (Time To Live) determines how long a DNS record is cached by resolvers before they fetch a fresh copy. A lower TTL (like 300s) means faster propagation of changes, but more frequent DNS queries.
What is the difference between a DNS lookup and nslookup?
They do the same thing — both query DNS servers for records of a domain. nslookup is a command-line tool available on Windows, macOS and Linux. This online DNS lookup tool does the same via a browser, without needing to open a terminal.
How do I do an MX lookup to check email settings?
Enter your domain name, select 'MX' as the record type, and click Lookup. The result shows your mail servers and their priority numbers. Lower priority numbers are tried first by sending mail servers.
Why are my DNS changes not showing up?
DNS changes are cached according to the old record's TTL. If your TTL was 86400 (24 hours), resolvers may serve the old record for up to 24 hours. You can flush your local DNS cache or use a different DNS resolver (like 8.8.8.8) to check the new values sooner.
What does a CNAME record do?
A CNAME (Canonical Name) record creates an alias from one domain name to another. For example, www.example.com → example.com. CNAME records cannot coexist with other records at the root domain.
Can I check DNS propagation from different locations?
This tool queries from our server. To check DNS from multiple global locations simultaneously, AlertSleep's monitoring can poll your domain from different regions and alert you if records diverge or fail to propagate.
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