When it comes to diagnosing network issues or simply satisfying your curiosity about how the web works, DNS lookup tools are your best friends. These tools allow you to view the DNS records of a given domain name, and in doing so, you can understand the paths that your data takes as it travels through the internet.
Here are some of the most popular free online DNS lookup tools:
NSLookup.io
NSLookup.io is a web-based DNS client that allows you to view all the DNS records for a website, providing the same information as command-line tools like dig and nslookup, but from the convenience of your web browser. Simply enter a domain name in the search bar, and you’ll get an overview of DNS records for the specified domain name.
Dig Web Interface
Dig Web Interface is a comprehensive tool offering a wide range of DNS record types and options. You can colorize the output, sort it alphabetically, save it to a file, or even show IP geolocation. The tool also allows you to specify the DNS server you want to use for your query. Moreover, it provides keyboard shortcuts, making navigation and usage even easier. Keep in mind that this tool has a fair usage policy, requiring a CAPTCHA to be solved for every 100 lookups in a 24-hour period.
DNS Checker
DNS Checker is a straightforward tool that finds all DNS records of a given domain name. The DNS records it can fetch include, but are not limited to, A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, PTR, SRV, SOA, TXT, CAA, DS, and DNSKEY. Just enter the domain URL, select the DNS record type or select “ALL” to fetch all DNS records.
Google Public DNS
Google’s Public DNS tool offers a simple interface for DNS lookups. Enter a domain name, hit “Lookup,” and enjoy the output. This tool is a part of Google’s Admin Toolbox, but it’s free to use and doesn’t require any special permissions or logins.
Stay tuned as I continue to explore more tools like MxToolbox and others to add to this list. Happy DNS hunting!