DNS lookup: every record of a domain, live.
Enter a domain or a subdomain to see its DNS records as they resolve right now, with a short reading: is the domain parked, does it receive email, are SPF and DMARC in place.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Live DNS data
What the DNS lookup shows
The DNS lookup resolves the main record types of a hostname: A and AAAA (the server addresses), CNAME (an alias), MX (mail servers), NS (nameservers), TXT (verification and email policy), SOA (zone details) and CAA (who may issue certificates).
On top of the raw records it answers three practical questions. Do the nameservers belong to a parking or marketplace service, which means the domain is for sale or idle? Does the domain accept email? And does it publish SPF and DMARC, without which mail sent from it is likely to land in spam?
How to read the result
- No records at all: The domain does not exist, has no nameservers, or has been taken out of the DNS (expired, on hold or in redemption).
- Parking nameservers: The domain shows ads or a for-sale page. For an expired domain, a long parked period means the old site and its content are long gone.
- MX without SPF or DMARC: The domain can receive mail but has no sender policy. Set both before sending email from a domain you bought.
Record types in one line each
| Record | What it does |
|---|---|
| A / AAAA | Points the name to an IPv4 / IPv6 address: where the website is hosted. |
| CNAME | Makes the name an alias of another name. |
| MX | Names the servers that receive email for the domain, with a priority. |
| NS | Names the servers that hold the domain’s DNS zone. |
| TXT | Free text: SPF, DMARC, site verification tokens. |
| SOA | The primary nameserver, the zone’s contact and its serial number. |
| CAA | Which certificate authorities may issue TLS certificates for the domain. |
What to keep in mind
- Results come through a resolver. Records are cached for as long as their TTL says, so a change made minutes ago may not show yet.
- DNS shows today only. Earlier nameservers and hosting are not in the DNS. The archive history is where you see what the domain used to be.
- Not every name is listed. The lookup shows records of the exact name you enter. Subdomains are not enumerated.
More lookups for the same domain
Related guides: Domain Status Codes Explained: What Each One Means for Buyers, Domain Reputation Check: Spamhaus, SURBL and Safe Browsing
DNS Lookup: frequently asked questions
What is a DNS lookup?
A DNS lookup asks the Domain Name System which records are published for a name: the addresses of its web server, its mail servers, its nameservers and its text records. It is how browsers and mail servers find where to send traffic.
How do I know whether a domain is parked?
Look at the nameservers. If they belong to a parking or marketplace service such as Sedo, Bodis, Afternic or Dan.com, the domain shows ads or a for-sale page. This tool flags those nameservers for you.
Why does the lookup return no records?
The domain is not registered, has no nameservers, or has been removed from the DNS by its registrar or registry. The last case is typical for expired domains on clientHold or in the redemption period.
What are SPF and DMARC?
Both are TXT records. SPF lists the servers allowed to send email for the domain; DMARC tells receiving servers what to do with mail that fails the checks. Mail from a domain without them is far more likely to be rejected or marked as spam.
Can I look up a subdomain?
Yes. Enter the full name, for example www.example.com or mail.example.com, and the records of that exact name are shown.
DNS shows where a domain points today.
The full report shows what it was: years of archive history, spam checks and the backlink profile.
Get the full report