DNS shows how a domain is actually being used. Nameservers reveal whether it is parked at a marketplace, hosted at a cloud provider or pointed at a registrar default page. MX records show whether it receives email. TXT records expose verification tokens and email policies that tell you which services the owner uses.
For buyers this is due diligence; for sellers it is the checklist before a transfer, because changing nameservers breaks anything still pointed at them.
How to use the DNS Lookup
- Enter a domain or hostname.
- Choose a record type or keep All common.
- Press Look up to query public DNS-over-HTTPS resolvers.
- Read the notes — we flag parking providers and email services we recognise.
How it works
Queries go from your browser to Google Public DNS over HTTPS, with Cloudflare as a fallback. Results show what the internet sees right now, including TTL (time to live) in seconds. An NXDOMAIN answer means the name does not exist in DNS — often a sign it is unregistered.
When to use it
- Check if a domain you want to buy is in active use
- Verify DNS changes after a transfer
- Identify the marketplace parking a domain
- Audit SPF and DMARC before sending email from a new domain
Pro tips
- Nameservers containing 'parking', 'sedo', 'afternic' or 'bodis' usually mean the domain is for sale.
- Lower TTLs to 300 seconds a day before a planned change.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't my new DNS records show yet?
Resolvers cache answers for the TTL period. Wait for the old TTL to expire or check again later.
What does NXDOMAIN mean?
The name does not exist in DNS. Either it is not registered or it has no nameservers delegated.
Can I look up a subdomain?
Yes. Enter the full hostname, for example mail.example.com.