DNS Lookup
Explore DNS records and jump to the tool you need
A, AAAA, MX, TXT, and more tools from CuscusLab
DNS lookup overview
The CuscusLab DNS lookup hub lets you check the most common DNS record types for any domain. Use the tabs to jump to a focused tool and see clean results with guidance.
Need easier propagation checks? Try the dedicated DNS tools built for diagnostics and latency.
What is a DNS lookup?
A DNS lookup converts a human-friendly domain name (like example.com) into a numeric IP address (like 192.0.2.10). Devices use IP addresses to talk on the internet, while DNS keeps the mapping updated as infrastructure changes.
Think of DNS like a global address book that keeps track of where services live so users do not have to memorize IP addresses.
What record types can be looked up?
Different DNS records power websites, email, certificates, and services. Use the tools below to inspect the record type you need.
A Record Lookup
Address (IPv4) records map a domain to an IPv4 address.
AAAA Record Lookup
Address (IPv6) records map a domain to an IPv6 address.
CAA Record Lookup
Control which certificate authorities can issue SSL certificates.
CNAME Record Lookup
Alias records point one hostname to another.
MX Record Lookup
Mail exchanger records define where email should be delivered.
SPF Validation
SPF records list authorized mail senders for a domain.
DMARC Check
DMARC policies define how receivers handle failures.
DNSSEC Check
Validate whether a domain is signed with DNSSEC.
NS Record Lookup
Nameserver records list the authoritative DNS servers.
PTR Record Lookup
Reverse DNS maps an IP address back to a hostname.
SOA Record Lookup
Start of authority records store DNS zone metadata.
SRV Record Lookup
Service records define protocol and port for a service.
TXT Record Lookup
Text records store verification tokens and SPF policies.
How does a DNS lookup work?
DNS resolution typically involves a chain of servers around the world. Each server has a role in finding the final answer.
Recursive Resolver
The resolver your device talks to. It caches records to speed up repeat lookups.
Root Nameserver
Directs the resolver to the correct TLD nameserver (like .com).
TLD Nameserver
Returns the authoritative nameservers for the domain.
Authoritative Nameserver
Stores the actual DNS records for the domain.
Example lookup flow
- 1The resolver checks its cache for the answer.
- 2If missing, it asks a root nameserver for the TLD server.
- 3The TLD server returns the authoritative nameserver.
- 4The authoritative server replies with the final record.
Visual flow
Why are DNS records cached?
DNS responses include a TTL (time to live). Resolvers cache records for that duration to speed up future lookups and reduce global DNS traffic.
What is reverse DNS?
Reverse DNS resolves an IP address back to a hostname using PTR records. Use the PTR lookup tool to validate reverse mappings.
How to do a DNS lookup
You can run lookups from the command line using tools like nslookup or dig, but web-based tools make results easier to interpret. Enter a domain above to get started.
For deeper checks, use dedicated tools for DNSSEC, latency, or propagation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do different tools show different DNS results?
Resolvers cache data and may be located in different regions. TTL and propagation also influence what each tool returns at any moment.
How often are DNS records updated?
Updates follow the record TTL. Lower TTL values propagate changes faster, while higher TTL values reduce DNS query load.
Why does a CNAME lookup return no records?
CNAME records are typically used on subdomains. Root domains often publish A/AAAA records or ALIAS/ANAME instead.