DNS Lookup: A, MX, NS, TXT records

DNS lookup — how to query A, MX, NS, TXT

Query A, MX, NS, TXT and other types via the resolver you pick — completely free.

DNS record types (what they mean)

This table explains the records you can query here. Sample values are common patterns; your zone will show different IPs and hosts.

Type	What it shows	Example
`A`	IPv4 address for the name. Needed on apex or www for the site to resolve.	`ownhost.net → 185.x.x.x`
`AAAA`	IPv6 address. Missing AAAA is often a warning; the site can still open on IPv4.	`cloudflare.com → 2606:4700:…`
`MX`	Mail exchangers and preference. No MX means the name cannot receive mail.	`10 mx1.mail.example.com`
`NS`	Authoritative name servers. Says where the zone is published.	`ns1.ownhost.net`
`SOA`	Zone identity: primary NS, contact, serial, timers.	`ns1 … 2026090401`
`TXT`	Free-form text: SPF, site verification, BIMI helpers.	`v=spf1 include:_spf… ~all`
`CAA`	Which CAs may issue certificates. Empty means no restriction.	`0 issue "letsencrypt.org"`
`CNAME`	Alias to another name. Conflicts with A/AAAA at the apex.	`www → proxy.cdn.net`
`PTR`	IP → hostname (reverse DNS). Use the Reverse DNS tool, not this page.	`8.8.8.8 → dns.google`

What is DNS lookup and what does this page do?

DNS lookup learns which IP, mail host or text record a hostname points to. Browsers ask A/AAAA first; mail clients ask MX; receivers read TXT for SPF.

IPTOOL queries the public resolver you pick (Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8, Quad9 9.9.9.9, …) from this Linux host. That is not your home ISP DNS, so answers can differ briefly from local nslookup. Free, no account.

Examples

Quick query: ownhost.net + ALLFetches common types in parallel, then offers the full report link.
Single type: example.com + MXLists mail exchangers only.
URL report: iptool.tr/ownhost.netintoDNS-style page with parent NS, glue, www and health checks.

Why resolver and TTL matter

Resolvers cache answers. TTL is how many seconds they may keep the reply. Right after you change an A record, Google may still show the old IP while Cloudflare shows the new one — that is propagation lag, not an outage.

Compare the same name on two resolvers, or open the DNS Propagation board. Quad9 may filter some malicious names; Cloudflare and Google are general-purpose.

Examples

Low TTL: TTL 300Changes spread in ~5 minutes; query load rises.
High TTL: TTL 86400Stale answers can linger up to a day.

How to read the result

No A/AAAA means the web name does not resolve. No MX means inbound mail fails. No NS means the zone is not published. Multiple A records are normal for round-robin or anycast. If TXT has no v=spf1, use the SPF tool; _dmarc lives on the DMARC checker.

www and the apex (example.com) are different names: one may be CNAME, the other A. The full report checks both. Missing AAAA alone is not a hard failure.

Examples

Site up, no mail: A present · MX missingThe website opens; the domain cannot receive mail.
CDN apex: A → anycast IPSeveral A records and a short TTL are common.

Frequently asked questions

What is DNS lookup?

Asking DNS which IP, mail host or text record a name points to. IPTOOL does that through the public resolver you choose.

What does ALL do?

It asks A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, SOA, CAA and other common types at once, then offers the full report link.

Does DNS lookup use the daily quota?

No. DNS Lookup and the domain report (iptool.tr/example.com) are completely free and do not consume daily quota.

Example: how do I read MX?

Lines like 10 mx1.example.com are preference and host. Lower numbers are tried first. No MX means the domain cannot receive mail.

No records — is the site down?

No A/AAAA means the web name does not resolve. No MX means no inbound mail. No NS means the zone is not published.

Which resolver should I use?

Cloudflare and Google are fast and common. Quad9 may filter malicious names. Compare the same domain on two resolvers.

What does TTL mean?

Time to live is how many seconds a resolver may cache the record. Low TTL spreads changes faster; high TTL cuts query load.

www vs apex?

Apex (example.com) and www are different names. One may be CNAME, the other A. The full report checks both.

Is missing IPv6 a problem?

The site can still load on IPv4. Missing AAAA is often a warning, not an error. Add AAAA if you want dual-stack.

Why do NS records matter?

NS says which servers publish the zone. Wrong NS or glue takes the name down entirely.

Why does this differ from my nslookup?

Queries leave from the iptool.tr host to a public resolver. Your ISP DNS keeps a separate cache.