A DNS (Domain Name System) lookup translates a human-readable domain name like example.com into the IP addresses and other records that computers use to route traffic. DNS is often called the "phone book of the internet."
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | Address | Maps a domain to an IPv4 address |
| AAAA | IPv6 Address | Maps a domain to an IPv6 address |
| CNAME | Canonical Name | Creates an alias pointing to another domain |
| MX | Mail Exchange | Specifies mail servers for the domain, with priority values |
| NS | Name Server | Indicates which DNS servers are authoritative for the domain |
| TXT | Text | Holds arbitrary text, commonly used for SPF, DKIM, and domain verification |
When you type a URL in your browser, your computer queries a DNS resolver (usually provided by your ISP or a public service like Google DNS at 8.8.8.8). The resolver walks the DNS hierarchy - from root servers, to TLD servers (like .com), to the domain's authoritative name servers - and returns the IP address your browser needs to connect.