DNS Lookup

DNS Lookup Tool

DNS Lookup finds DNS records for a domain or IP to reveal where services like websites and email are directed. It helps you diagnose issues fast, validate configurations, and confirm propagation. Use it when launching a site, setting up email, moving hosts, or troubleshooting connectivity.

What is DNS Lookup?

DNS Lookup is a tool that queries the Domain Name System to retrieve records such as A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, and SOA. These records map domain names to IP addresses, mail servers, and other critical endpoints. By running a DNS lookup, you can see exactly how the internet resolves a domain in real time.

On Monkey Type, the DNS Lookup tool streamlines this process with a simple interface and clear, actionable results. Enter a domain or IP, choose a record type, and get authoritative answers from trusted resolvers. This helps you confirm whether your domain is configured correctly without installing command-line utilities.

If your intent is to quickly verify DNS records, check DNS propagation, or troubleshoot email and CDN settings, the DNS Lookup on Monkey Type provides immediate visibility. It surfaces TTLs, record chains, and resolver differences, so you can pinpoint misconfigurations and fix them confidently.

Why Use DNS Lookup?

• Instant troubleshooting: When a site won’t load, DNS Lookup reveals whether A/AAAA records point to the correct IP, solving “server not found” and timeout issues.
• Email deliverability: Validate MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC TXT records to reduce spam flags and ensure reliable email routing.
• Propagation checks: After DNS changes, confirm that public resolvers show updated records and understand how TTL affects visibility.
• Configuration audits: Detect CNAME loops, missing AAAA records, stale NS entries, or mismatched SOA details before they cause outages.
• Security posture: Verify DNSSEC indicators, review TXT records for integrity, and ensure nameservers are consistent across the zone.

How to Use DNS Lookup on Monkey Type

1. Open the DNS Lookup tool on Monkey Type.
2. In the input field, enter the domain or host you want to query.
3. Select the record type (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, PTR, or ANY). For email checks, choose MX or TXT.
4. Optionally choose a resolver. (e.g., 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8, or your ISP’s DNS) to compare results across providers.
5. Click “Lookup” to run the query. The tool sends a DNS query and displays the results.
6. Review the answers: note the record values, TTL, and any CNAME chains that lead to final A/AAAA records.
7. Use advanced options if available (trace, DNSSEC flag check, or recursion control) to diagnose deeper issues.
8. Copy or export the results for documentation or sharing with your team.

Expected results: You will see one or more records that match your query (e.g., A → 93.184.216.34, MX → mail.example.com), along with TTL values and authoritative information. If no result appears, the tool provides error or NXDOMAIN details to guide next steps.

Key Features

• Comprehensive record support: Query A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, and PTR records, plus ANY for broad snapshots.
• Reverse lookup: Enter an IP to perform a PTR query and identify the associated hostname.
• Multi-resolver checks: Compare outputs from public resolvers and your ISP to catch cache or filtering discrepancies.
• TTL and propagation insights: See TTLs to estimate when changes will propagate globally.
• CNAME chain handling: Follow CNAMEs to final A/AAAA endpoints to validate full resolution paths.
• DNSSEC indicators: Surface flags or status to verify signed zones where applicable.
• Error visibility: Clear NXDOMAIN, SERVFAIL, and timeout messages to speed up root-cause analysis.
• Export and share: Copy results or export to CSV/JSON for tickets, change logs, or audits.
• Authoritative hints: Identify authoritative nameservers and SOA details to verify zone ownership and versioning.

Best Practices & Tips

• Check multiple resolvers: Compare results from at least two providers to detect stale caches or resolver-specific filtering.
• Validate email stack: Always verify MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC TXT records together; misalignment causes delivery failures.
• Watch TTLs: Lower TTL before planned changes. After updates, allow the prior TTL to expire before assuming full propagation.
• Inspect CNAME depth: Excessive CNAME chaining adds latency and risk. Ensure final targets resolve cleanly to A/AAAA.
• Confirm authoritative data: If results differ unexpectedly, query the authoritative nameservers listed by NS or in the SOA.
• Reverse test IPs: For mail servers, ensure PTR records match forward DNS to improve reputation and reduce bounces.
• Avoid common typos: Check for trailing dots, extra spaces, or wrong subdomain levels that cause NXDOMAIN results.

Common Use Cases

• Website launch or migration: Verify A/AAAA and CNAME records point to new hosting or CDN origins before switching traffic.
• Email configuration: Confirm MX routing and validate SPF/DKIM/DMARC when moving to providers like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
• Propagation verification: After DNS edits, use multiple resolvers to confirm changes are visible worldwide.
• SSL and CDN setup: Ensure CNAMEs to CDN endpoints resolve correctly and match certificate hostnames.
• Security hygiene: Audit TXT records, DNSSEC status, and consistent NS entries to reduce attack surface and misconfigurations.
• Incident response: Diagnose outages by checking for expired records, wrong IPs, or failing authoritative servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DNS lookup and why is it important?

A DNS lookup queries the Domain Name System to translate domain names into IP addresses and retrieve related records. It is crucial for ensuring websites, email, and other services route correctly. Accurate DNS data prevents downtime, delivery issues, and performance problems.

How do I check DNS propagation with DNS Lookup?

Run the same DNS lookup against multiple resolvers (e.g., your ISP). Compare results and TTLs to see if changes have taken effect globally. If some resolvers still show old data, wait for the prior TTL to expire.

Which record types should I query for email troubleshooting?

Check MX for mail routing and TXT records for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Also verify PTR for the sending IP, as mismatched reverse DNS can harm deliverability. These DNS lookups reveal misconfigurations that lead to spam filtering or bounces.

Why do different DNS resolvers show different results?

Resolvers cache answers based on TTL, may apply filtering, or might not have refreshed their cache yet. Running DNS lookup against multiple resolvers helps distinguish a local cache issue from a configuration error at the source.

Can I use DNS Lookup on Monkey Type for reverse DNS?

Yes. Enter an IP address and choose PTR to perform a reverse DNS lookup. The tool will return the hostname associated with that IP, which is useful for mail servers, analytics, and security validation.