DNS (Domain Name System) is the phonebook of the internet — it translates human-readable domain names into the IP addresses and server information that computers use to communicate. Understanding how to read and check DNS records is essential for domain owners, developers, system administrators and security researchers.
Our free DNS Record Checker queries Google DNS directly from your browser and returns all records in seconds, with copy buttons for each value.
The Main DNS Record Types Explained
A record (Address) — Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address. This is the most fundamental record — when you type a URL, your browser looks up the A record to find which server to connect to. Example: example.com → 93.184.216.34
AAAA record (IPv6 Address) — Same as an A record but for IPv6 addresses. Increasingly important as IPv4 addresses become scarce and IPv6 adoption grows.
MX record (Mail Exchanger) — Specifies which mail servers should receive email for the domain. MX records have a priority number — lower is higher priority. If your MX records are wrong, email will not be delivered.
TXT record (Text) — Stores arbitrary text data. Used for SPF (email spam prevention), DKIM (email signing), DMARC (email policy), domain ownership verification (Google, Microsoft, various services) and many other purposes.
CNAME record (Canonical Name) — Creates an alias from one domain name to another. Instead of an IP address, it points to another domain name. Commonly used for subdomains: www.example.com → example.com or blog.example.com → example.ghost.io
NS record (Nameserver) — Specifies which DNS servers are authoritative for the domain. Changing NS records (when transferring a domain or switching DNS providers) is one of the longest propagation processes — up to 48 hours.
SOA record (Start of Authority) — Contains administrative information about the DNS zone: the primary nameserver, the email of the domain administrator, and timing parameters for DNS caching.
CAA record (Certificate Authority Authorization) — Specifies which Certificate Authorities are allowed to issue SSL/TLS certificates for the domain. A security measure to prevent unauthorised certificate issuance.
How to Check DNS Records
Use our DNS Record Checker — enter any domain and select which record types to check. Results come from Google DNS directly and reflect the current live state of the DNS zone. Each record has a copy button and shows the TTL (Time to Live) in human-readable format.
For command-line users: dig example.com A (Linux/Mac) or nslookup example.com (Windows) perform basic DNS lookups.
Why DNS Records Sometimes Differ
DNS records are cached by resolvers for their TTL period. A record with a TTL of 3600 (1 hour) will be cached by your local DNS resolver for up to an hour after it changes. Different resolvers around the world may show different values during this propagation window. Our tool queries Google's 8.8.8.8 DNS for the most current results.
Common DNS Problems
Email not delivering? Check your MX records. Website not loading on a new host? Check your A records have updated. SSL certificate failing? Check CAA records. Domain verification failing? Check TXT records for the required verification string.
Use our free DNS Record Checker to diagnose any of these issues in seconds — no installation required.
