DNS Lookup
Query DNS records for any domain instantly.
Understanding DNS Records
Address Record
Maps a domain name directly to an IPv4 address.
Mail Exchange
Specifies mail servers responsible for accepting emails.
Text Record
Commonly used for SPF, DKIM, and site verification.
Canonical Name
Aliases one domain name to another (e.g. www to root).
Frequently asked
What Each DNS Record Actually Tells You
The record types worth knowing
DNS is the internet's phone book, and each record type answers a different question about a domain:
| Record | Answers | Typical debugging use |
|---|---|---|
| A / AAAA | Which IP serves this domain (IPv4/IPv6) | Site down? Check if the IP is what you expect |
| CNAME | This name is an alias for that name | Subdomain pointing at the wrong service |
| MX | Which servers receive this domain's email | Mail not arriving after a provider switch |
| TXT | Verification strings, SPF/DKIM/DMARC | Email landing in spam, domain verification failing |
| NS | Which nameservers control the domain | Changes not taking effect — wrong NS entirely |
The propagation myth
“Wait 24–48 hours for propagation” is mostly folklore. DNS changes appear as fast as the record's TTL (time-to-live) allows — a 300-second TTL means resolvers refresh within five minutes. What actually causes day-long waits: caches holding the old long TTL, or changes made at the wrong place (the registrar's DNS when the domain actually uses Cloudflare's). Pro move before any migration: lower the TTL a day in advance, switch, then raise it back.
DNS in the diagnostic chain
“Site not working” debugs in order: DNS resolves? (here) → server responds? (the HTTP status checker) → certificate valid? (the SSL checker). Who actually controls the domain — its registrar and expiry — is the WHOIS lookup's department, and what's known about the resolved IP belongs to the IP lookup.