How DNS lookups helpCheck live domain records before deeper network tests
DNS records are the published instructions that tell the internet where to send website traffic, email and verification requests for a domain. When a site will not load, mail bounces or a new hosting setup is not visible yet, checking the live records is usually the fastest way to see what the world can resolve right now.
This lookup queries public DNS data for common record types and shows the target value, priority where relevant and TTL in seconds. Results may differ slightly between resolvers because of caching, so compare with your registrar or hosting panel if you recently changed records.
After confirming naming is correct, continue with ping and traceroute for reachability, or use the full Network Diagnostics Suite for port and routing checks.
DNS lookup questions
What does a DNS lookup show?
A DNS lookup shows records published for a domain, including website addresses, mail servers, nameservers, aliases and verification text.
What is the difference between A and AAAA records?
An A record points to an IPv4 address, while an AAAA record points to an IPv6 address.
What does MX priority mean?
Lower MX priority numbers are preferred first. Backup mail servers normally use higher priority numbers.
Why can DNS results differ between resolvers?
Resolvers cache records for their TTL period, so recently changed records may appear at different times in different locations.
What is a TXT record used for?
TXT records commonly publish SPF email rules, ownership verification and other machine-readable domain policies.
What does TTL mean in DNS results?
TTL is the time-to-live in seconds. It tells resolvers how long they may cache a record before asking the authoritative server again.
What is the difference between NS and CNAME records?
NS records identify which nameservers are authoritative for a zone. CNAME records create an alias from one hostname to another existing name.
Why does my domain show NXDOMAIN?
NXDOMAIN means the name does not exist in public DNS. Check spelling, confirm the domain is registered and verify that nameservers are configured at the registrar.