NS Record Lookup Tool

What is a DNS NS Record?

An **NS (Name Server)** record specifies the authoritative DNS servers for a domain. These are the servers that hold the actual DNS records (like A, MX, TXT, etc.) for that domain. When a user wants to visit your website, their DNS resolver first asks the root DNS servers, which then point to the TLD (Top-Level Domain) servers (e.g., for .com), which in turn use the NS records to find your domain's authoritative DNS server.

The Role of Delegation

NS records are the foundation of DNS **delegation**. They essentially say, "For any DNS queries about example.com, go ask these specific servers." This allows the global DNS system to be distributed and managed efficiently.

• Authoritative Source: The nameservers listed in the NS records are considered the final authority for that domain's DNS information.
• Redundancy and Reliability: It is a requirement to have at least two NS records for a domain, pointing to different servers. This ensures that if one nameserver becomes unavailable, DNS queries can still be resolved by the other(s), preventing your domain from going offline.
• DNS Provider: When you purchase a domain, you typically point its NS records to the DNS provider that will manage your records (e.g., Cloudflare, GoDaddy DNS, AWS Route 53).

NS Record Format

An NS record has the following structure:

[Domain Name] [TTL] IN NS [Nameserver Hostname]

• Domain Name: The domain being delegated (e.g., example.com).
• TTL (Time To Live): The duration in seconds that the record can be cached.
• IN: Stands for Internet.
• NS: Specifies that this is a Name Server record.
• Nameserver Hostname: The full domain name of the authoritative DNS server (e.g., ns1.dnsprovider.com).

Our tool queries the DNS hierarchy to find the official NS records for the domain you enter, showing you which servers are responsible for its DNS management.