What DNS does
The Domain Name System turns a name like example.com into the addresses computers use. When a site does not load, or email stops arriving after a change, checking the DNS records is often the fastest way to find out why.
Record types
| Type | What it holds | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address | Where the website is hosted |
| AAAA | IPv6 address | The same, over IPv6 |
| CNAME | Another name (alias) | www pointing to the main domain or a CDN |
| MX | Mail servers, with priority | Where email for the domain is delivered |
| NS | Name servers | Who manages the domain's DNS |
| TXT | Free text | SPF, DKIM, site verification |
How to read the result
- Status NOERROR with records: the name resolves normally.
- NOERROR with no record: the domain exists but has no record of that type.
- NXDOMAIN: the name does not exist, or the change has not reached the resolver yet.
- TTL: how many seconds resolvers may keep the answer in cache. After a change, old answers can stay visible until the TTL expires.
Queries are sent from your browser directly to Cloudflare's public DNS-over-HTTPS resolver (1.1.1.1), or to Google Public DNS if Cloudflare does not answer. They do not go through our server. The result is what a public resolver sees; your provider's resolver may still hold an older answer in cache.
If names resolve but pages stay slow, test your latency and speed.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my change not show yet?
Resolvers keep answers for the TTL of the old record. Wait for that time to pass; lowering the TTL a day before a planned change makes the switch faster.
Can I check propagation worldwide here?
No. This tool queries one public resolver. Checking many resolvers in different countries needs servers in those countries.
Is a DNS lookup private?
The domain you type is sent to the public resolver, like any DNS query. Do not look up names you want to keep confidential.