DNS Checker (A/AAAA/MX/TXT)
Updated Mar 6, 2026
Query any domain and instantly see its DNS records across multiple record types (A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME). Choose from Google, Cloudflare, Quad9, or your system default resolver to compare results and verify DNS propagation.
Useful for debugging email deliverability (MX/TXT), confirming domain verification records, checking CNAME aliases, and identifying nameservers. Includes a record-type explainer and resolver reference.
DNS Lookup
Enter a hostname to query its DNS records.
DNS Resolvers
Choose a resolver to see how records vary across providers. This can help verify DNS propagation after changes.
| Resolver | IP Address | Note |
|---|---|---|
| System Default | OS configured | Uses whatever DNS servers your OS is configured with (usually your ISP or local network). |
| Google (8.8.8.8) | 8.8.8.8 | Google Public DNS — fast, globally distributed, supports DNSSEC. |
| Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) | 1.1.1.1 | Cloudflare DNS — privacy-focused (no query logging), very fast. |
| Quad9 (9.9.9.9) | 9.9.9.9 | Quad9 — blocks known malicious domains automatically, nonprofit-operated. |
How DNS Lookups Work
When you type a domain into your browser, your device sends a query to a recursive DNS resolver(usually your ISP's or one you've configured like Google or Cloudflare). That resolver walks the DNS hierarchy — root servers, TLD servers, authoritative nameservers — until it gets an answer.
The answer is cached at multiple levels (your OS, your router, the resolver itself) based on the record's TTL(Time To Live). This is why DNS changes aren't instant — old cached answers linger until the TTL expires.
Different resolvers may return different answers if a DNS change is still propagating, or if they have different cached versions. This tool lets you compare results across resolvers to verify propagation.
DNS Record Types — Quick Reference
What each record type means, when you'd use it, and what the result looks like.
| Type | Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Address (IPv4) | Maps a domain to an IPv4 address. The most common record type — this is how browsers find the server behind a URL. | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | Address (IPv6) | Maps a domain to an IPv6 address. Same purpose as an A record but for the newer, longer IPv6 address format. | example.com → 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946 |
| MX | Mail Exchange | Specifies the mail server(s) responsible for receiving email for a domain. Includes a priority value — lower numbers are tried first. | example.com → 10 mail.example.com |
| TXT | Text | Holds arbitrary text data. Commonly used for SPF (email auth), DKIM, DMARC, domain verification (Google, Microsoft), and other metadata. | example.com → "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all" |
| NS | Name Server | Lists the authoritative nameservers for a domain. These are the servers that hold the definitive DNS records for the zone. | example.com → ns1.example.com, ns2.example.com |
| CNAME | Canonical Name (Alias) | Points one domain name to another (an alias). The browser follows the chain until it reaches an A or AAAA record. Cannot coexist with other record types on the same name. | www.example.com → example.com |