DNS Records Lookup

Look up DNS records for any domain or URL. Query A/AAAA (IPv4/IPv6), CNAME, MX, TXT (SPF/DMARC/DKIM), NS, and SOA records. Includes filtering by record type, findings/score, copy/export to JSON, and a clean raw-text output view.

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About DNS Records Lookup

Enter a domain (or paste a URL) and instantly view its DNS configuration: IP resolution (A/AAAA), aliases (CNAME), mail routing (MX), text records (TXT for SPF/DMARC/DKIM), name servers (NS), and zone authority (SOA). Perfect for debugging domain setup, email deliverability, and infrastructure changes.

Features

  • Look up DNS records for a domain or URL (auto-extracts the hostname).
  • Filter by record type: ALL, A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA.
  • Compare IPv4/IPv6 resolution (A vs AAAA) for modern dual-stack readiness.
  • Email DNS visibility: find SPF/DMARC/DKIM-related TXT records and common gaps.
  • Findings + score card to surface likely configuration issues faster.
  • Built-in filtering and “only problems” view for quicker troubleshooting.
  • Copy results easily for tickets and documentation.
  • Export a JSON report for automation and auditing.
  • Clean raw-text output suitable for sharing and diffing.

🧭 How to use for dns-records-lookup

1

Enter a domain or URL

Paste a hostname like example.com or a full URL like [https://example.com/path](https://example.com/path). The tool will use the domain portion for DNS queries.

2

Choose a record type

Select ALL to get a complete view, or pick a specific type (A, AAAA, MX, TXT, etc.) to focus the lookup.

3

Review results and findings

Check returned records first, then review findings/score for potential problems (missing expected records, suspicious values, or incomplete email setup).

4

Export and share

Copy results into a support ticket or download the JSON report to keep an audit trail or automate checks.

Technical specs

Lookup model

This tool performs DNS record queries for the provided domain/URL and returns results as readable raw text with optional findings.

SettingBehaviorDefault
InputDomain or URL (hostname extracted)[https://example.com](https://example.com)
Record TypeALL, A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOAALL
TimeoutDNS lookup timeout limit12000 ms
User-AgentIdentifies the request user agentEncode64Bot/1.0 (+[https://encode64.com](https://encode64.com))
Private networksBlocks access to private network ranges for safetyDisabled (private networks not allowed)

Record types explained

A quick guide to what each record type typically represents and when you’ll use it.

TypeWhat it doesCommon use
AMaps a name to an IPv4 addressWeb hosting, origin servers
AAAAMaps a name to an IPv6 addressIPv6 support and dual-stack setups
CNAMEAliases one name to another canonical nameCDN hostnames, service routing
MXMail exchanger records with priorityEmail routing and deliverability
TXTText records used for many policiesSPF, DKIM, DMARC, verification tokens
NSDelegates a zone to authoritative name serversDNS provider configuration and delegation
SOAStart of authority for a zoneZone serial/refresh metadata and authority
TXT records are often the busiest: SPF lives in TXT, DMARC uses a TXT record at _dmarc.yourdomain, and DKIM typically appears under selector._domainkey.yourdomain.

Email security records (SPF/DMARC/DKIM)

Email deliverability and spoofing resistance depend heavily on DNS TXT records. This tool helps you list and verify their presence at a glance.

RecordWhere to lookWhat you expect
SPFTXT at root domain (example.com)A single v=spf1 policy (avoid multiple SPF TXT records)
DMARCTXT at _dmarc.example.comv=DMARC1 with a policy (p=none/quarantine/reject)
DKIMTXT at selector._domainkey.example.comA public key value published by your mail provider

Command line

Prefer the CLI? These commands reproduce common DNS checks locally. Use them to confirm results or script diagnostics.

macOS / Linux

Query A and AAAA records

dig example.com A +short

dig example.com AAAA +short

Shows IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Useful for dual-stack validation.

Query CNAME

dig [www.example.com](http://www.example.com) CNAME +short

Shows whether a hostname is an alias to another hostname (often a CDN).

Query MX records

dig example.com MX +short

Lists mail exchangers and their priorities.

Query TXT (SPF and other verification records)

dig example.com TXT +short

Shows TXT records; look for v=spf1 and other policy/verification values.

Query DMARC

dig _dmarc.example.com TXT +short

Shows DMARC policy if configured.

Query NS and SOA

dig example.com NS +short

dig example.com SOA +short

Validates authoritative name servers and zone authority metadata.

Windows

Basic lookup (A record)

nslookup -type=A example.com

Shows IPv4 mapping for the domain.

TXT lookup (SPF/DMARC hints)

nslookup -type=TXT example.com

Lists TXT records; DMARC is typically under _dmarc.example.com.

If you’re debugging email deliverability, check that SPF exists and DMARC is published. Also ensure you don’t publish multiple SPF TXT records at the root—many receivers treat that as a permanent SPF error.

Use cases

Validate web hosting and CDN routing

Confirm that your domain points to the right IPs or CDN hostnames, and that IPv6 is configured as expected.

  • Check A/AAAA for origin IPs
  • Confirm CNAME points to your CDN provider
  • Detect missing AAAA (no IPv6) when you expect it

Troubleshoot email routing and deliverability

Inspect MX and TXT records to verify mail provider setup and anti-spoofing policies.

  • MX records point to your mail provider
  • SPF is published (v=spf1 ...)
  • DMARC exists at _dmarc.yourdomain
  • DKIM selectors exist under selector._domainkey

Debug DNS provider changes and delegations

When migrating DNS providers, NS/SOA help confirm delegation and authority boundaries.

  • NS records match the provider you configured at the registrar
  • SOA indicates the authoritative zone you expect

Diagnose broken subdomains

If a subdomain doesn’t resolve, look for missing A/AAAA or incorrect CNAME targets.

  • CNAME points to a non-existent hostname
  • No A/AAAA published for the subdomain
  • NS delegation exists when using separate zone hosting

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I paste a full URL instead of a domain?

Yes. The tool accepts a domain or a full URL and uses the hostname portion to query DNS records.

What does "ALL" record type mean?

It runs a broader lookup so you can view common records together (A/AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA) instead of checking each type one by one.

Why do I see multiple A or AAAA records?

Multiple IPs are normal for load balancing, geo routing, or high availability. CDNs and large providers commonly return many addresses.

Why is publishing multiple SPF TXT records a problem?

SPF expects a single policy record at the root. Multiple SPF records can cause receivers to treat SPF as a permanent error, hurting deliverability.

Where is DMARC stored in DNS?

DMARC is usually published as a TXT record at _dmarc.yourdomain (e.g., _dmarc.example.com) with a value starting with v=DMARC1.

Where is DKIM stored in DNS?

DKIM uses TXT records under selector._domainkey.yourdomain. The selector name depends on your email provider and configuration.

Does this tool check DNS propagation globally?

This lookup returns records as resolved by the tool’s resolver path. DNS propagation can vary by resolver and region; for global propagation checks, compare results from multiple resolvers and locations.

Pro Tips

Best Practice

When migrating DNS, validate NS at the registrar and then verify SOA to confirm which provider is authoritative.

Performance Tip

For performance and modern connectivity, publish AAAA if your infrastructure supports IPv6 (many CDNs do by default).

Security Tip

For email security, aim for SPF + DKIM + DMARC together; DMARC without DKIM/SPF alignment won’t be effective.

Best Practice

Keep SPF manageable: avoid too many DNS lookups and avoid multiple SPF records at the root domain.

CI Tip

Export JSON and keep it in incident tickets during outages—DNS snapshots are useful when records change mid-debug.

Additional Resources

Other Tools

DNS Records Lookup — query A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS & SOA | Encode64