How to use the DNS lookup
- Type a domain name into the field, such as example.com.
- Choose the record type you want to check from the dropdown.
- Press "Look up records".
- Read the returned records. For MX entries you will see the priority and the mail server; for TXT you will see the full text value.
What each record type means
| Record | Purpose |
|---|---|
| A | Maps a domain to an IPv4 address, such as 93.184.216.34. |
| AAAA | Maps a domain to an IPv6 address. |
| MX | Lists the mail servers that accept email for the domain, each with a priority. |
| NS | Lists the authoritative name servers for the domain. |
| TXT | Holds free-form text, commonly used for SPF, DKIM and domain verification. |
| CNAME | Points a name to another domain name instead of an address. |
Why DNS matters for webmasters
DNS is the phonebook of the internet. When a record is missing or misconfigured, a site can go offline, email can bounce, or a verification check can fail. Checking records after you change a domain's settings lets you confirm the change has propagated and is serving the values you expect. Remember that DNS changes can take time to spread around the world, so a freshly updated record may not appear everywhere at once.
Troubleshooting with DNS records
If a website is down, checking its A or AAAA records is the first step — an empty result often means the domain points nowhere. If email stops arriving, look at the MX records to confirm a mail server is still listed and that its priority is set the way you expect. If a third-party service such as a payment or search provider asks you to verify a domain, the TXT record is usually where the confirmation string lives. A quick lookup shows whether the value is present and correctly formed, which can save hours of guessing.