What is a DNS lookup tool and how does it work?

A DNS lookup tool queries DNS servers to retrieve the DNS records associated with a domain name. It works by sending a request to a DNS resolver (like Google 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare 1.1.1.1), which returns the records stored for that domain such as A, MX, NS, and TXT records.

How do I check the MX record of a domain online for free?

Enter the domain name in the input field on this page, select MX from the record type dropdown, and click Lookup. The tool will instantly show the mail exchange servers for that domain along with their priority values.

Can I check TXT records to verify SPF and DKIM settings?

Yes. Select TXT from the record type dropdown and enter your domain. The tool will display all TXT records including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC entries that are used for email authentication.

What is the difference between an A record and AAAA record?

An A record maps a domain to an IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.1.1). An AAAA record maps a domain to an IPv6 address (e.g., 2001:db8::1). Most websites have both for compatibility with IPv4 and IPv6 networks.

How do I find the nameservers of any website?

Enter the domain name and select NS from the record type dropdown. The tool will display all authoritative nameservers for that domain, which tells you which DNS provider is managing the domain's records.

Does this DNS lookup tool store my queries?

Your recent queries are saved locally in your browser's localStorage only for your convenience. Nothing is sent to or stored on our servers. You can clear your history at any time using the Clear History button.

How do I check if DNS has propagated after changing nameservers?

Use the Compare Resolvers option under Advanced Settings to query Google (8.8.8.8), Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9) simultaneously. If all resolvers return the new records, DNS propagation is complete worldwide.

DNS Lookup Tool

Instantly check A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT, SOA, PTR records and DNSSEC status for any domain. Free — no signup needed.

example.com

⏱️ Response Time: — 🔗 Source: — 🔒 DNSSEC: —

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Type	Name / Value	TTL	Priority	Source

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Recent Queries

Free Online DNS Lookup Tool — Check Any DNS Record Without Installing Software

If you have ever asked yourself "how do I check DNS records for my domain without installing software" — you are in the right place. The HB Tools DNS Lookup by Haridash lets you instantly query A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT, SOA, and PTR records for any domain, directly from your browser. No command line. No account. Completely free.

Whether you are a developer troubleshooting a broken subdomain, a site owner verifying email authentication records, or a network admin checking if DNS propagation has completed after changing nameservers — this tool gives you accurate, real-time results in under a second.

How to Check DNS Records for Any Domain — Step by Step

Using this tool is straightforward. Type a domain name (e.g., yoursite.com) or an IP address for a reverse PTR lookup into the input box. Select a specific record type from the dropdown — or choose All Records to retrieve everything at once. Click Lookup and results appear instantly.

For more control, click the Advanced button to switch DNS resolvers, enable DNS Trace to see the full resolution path, or activate the Compare Resolvers option to query Google (8.8.8.8), Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9) side by side. This is particularly useful when you want to verify DNS propagation across multiple servers worldwide.

DNS Record Types Explained — What Each One Does

DNS records are the instructions that tell the internet how to handle traffic for your domain. Here is what each type means in plain language:

A Record — Maps your domain to an IPv4 address. This is the record that points yourdomain.com to your web server. If your website is not loading after migration, the A record is the first thing to check.

AAAA Record — The IPv6 version of an A record. If you are wondering "why does my domain not work on IPv6 networks", a missing AAAA record is likely the answer.

CNAME Record — Creates an alias from one hostname to another. Commonly used for www subdomains or CDN configurations. A CNAME cannot exist at the root domain level alongside other records.

MX Record — Controls where email for your domain is delivered. If you are troubleshooting "why are emails to my domain bouncing", check MX records first. Lower priority numbers mean that mail server is tried first.

NS Record — Lists the authoritative nameservers for your domain. When you transfer a domain to a new DNS provider, NS records are what change. Use this to find out which DNS provider manages any website.

TXT Record — A multi-purpose record used for SPF to prevent email spoofing, DKIM email signing, DMARC policies, and domain ownership verification for Google Search Console or SSL providers.

SOA Record — The Start of Authority record holds administrative data for your domain zone including the primary nameserver, administrator contact, and default TTL values.

PTR Record — Reverse DNS. Maps an IP address back to a hostname. Mail servers use PTR records to verify a sending IP is legitimate — a missing PTR record is a common reason emails end up in spam folders.

DNSSEC — Checks whether the domain uses DNS Security Extensions, which digitally sign records to block DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks.

Common DNS Problems This Tool Helps You Diagnose

Here are the most common real-world situations where a free DNS record checker saves hours of guesswork:

Emails going to spam or bouncing: Check MX records to confirm they exist and point to the correct mail server. Then check TXT records to verify your SPF record is valid and your DKIM key is published.

Website not loading after host migration: Look up the A record to confirm the IP address now points to the new server. If it still shows the old IP, DNS propagation is not yet complete.

DNS not propagated after changing nameservers: Use the Compare Resolvers feature. If Google DNS and Cloudflare DNS return different results, propagation is still in progress globally.

Subdomain resolving to wrong destination: Query the CNAME record for that specific subdomain to confirm the alias target is correct.

Diagnosing a suspicious IP address: Use a PTR lookup to check what hostname is associated with that IP and whether it matches expectations.

What Is TTL and How Does It Affect DNS Changes?

TTL (Time to Live) is the number of seconds a DNS record is cached by resolvers before they fetch a fresh copy. A TTL of 300 means changes propagate within 5 minutes. A TTL of 86400 means up to 24 hours. When planning a server migration or DNS provider switch, lowering your TTL to 300 at least 24–48 hours before making changes is best practice — it ensures the changeover happens quickly with minimal downtime.

This tool displays the exact TTL for every record returned, so you can instantly see how long cached results might persist before your changes go fully live.

DNS Lookup vs WHOIS — Which Do You Need?

A DNS lookup shows the technical configuration of a domain — servers, mail routing, and security records. A WHOIS lookup shows ownership information — who registered the domain, when it expires, and which registrar controls it. For a complete picture when investigating a domain, you often need both. Every result page on this tool includes a direct WHOIS Lookup button for that exact reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

A DNS lookup tool queries DNS servers to retrieve the records associated with a domain. It sends a request to a DNS resolver such as Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), which returns stored records for that domain — including A, MX, NS, TXT, and more. This tool uses DNS-over-HTTPS for fast, secure queries directly from your browser.

Enter the domain name in the input field, select MX from the record type dropdown, and click Lookup. The tool instantly displays all mail exchange servers for that domain along with their priority values. A lower number means that server is preferred for email delivery.

Yes. Select TXT from the record type dropdown and enter your domain. All TXT records are displayed including SPF entries (starting with v=spf1), DKIM public keys, and DMARC policies (starting with v=DMARC1). These records are critical for email authentication and deliverability.

An A record maps a domain to an IPv4 address (32-bit, e.g., 93.184.216.34). An AAAA record maps a domain to an IPv6 address (128-bit, e.g., 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946). Most modern websites have both record types configured to support all types of internet connections.

Enter the domain and select NS from the dropdown. The tool lists all authoritative nameservers — the DNS servers that hold the official records for that domain. Knowing the nameservers tells you exactly which DNS provider or registrar is managing the domain's configuration.

Use the Compare Resolvers option under Advanced Settings. This queries Google DNS (8.8.8.8), Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9) at the same time. If all three return your new records, propagation is complete globally. If they differ, some resolvers are still serving cached old data.

A missing MX record means the domain is not configured to receive email — all incoming messages will bounce. You need to add MX records through your DNS provider pointing to your mail server. For Google Workspace, the MX records point to aspmx.l.google.com and related servers. For Microsoft 365, they point to your tenant's mail endpoint.

Your recent queries are saved locally in your browser's localStorage purely for your convenience, so you can quickly re-run a previous lookup. This data never leaves your device and is never sent to or stored on our servers. You can delete it at any time by clicking the Clear History button.