nslookup Command
Beginner Networking man(1)Query DNS name servers interactively
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📅 Updated: Mar 16, 2026
SYNTAX
nslookup [OPTION]... [HOST] [SERVER]
What Does nslookup Do?
nslookup queries DNS name servers to find the IP address of a domain or the domain name for an IP address. It is one of the most commonly used DNS troubleshooting tools.
nslookup can query specific record types (A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME, NS, SOA) and use specific DNS servers. It operates in interactive or non-interactive mode.
While dig is more detailed and preferred by DNS administrators, nslookup is available on virtually every operating system (including Windows) and is simpler for basic queries.
nslookup can query specific record types (A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME, NS, SOA) and use specific DNS servers. It operates in interactive or non-interactive mode.
While dig is more detailed and preferred by DNS administrators, nslookup is available on virtually every operating system (including Windows) and is simpler for basic queries.
Options & Flags
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| domain | Look up domain A record | nslookup example.com |
| -type= | Specify record type | nslookup -type=MX example.com |
| domain server | Use specific DNS server | nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8 |
| -debug | Show detailed query info | nslookup -debug example.com |
Practical Examples
#1 Look up domain
Finds the IP address for a domain.
$ nslookup example.com
Output:
Server: 8.8.8.8
Name: example.com
Address: 93.184.216.34
#2 MX records
Finds mail server records for the domain.
$ nslookup -type=MX example.com
Output:
example.com mail exchanger = 10 mail.example.com
#3 TXT records
Shows TXT records (SPF, DKIM, verification).
$ nslookup -type=TXT example.com#4 Use specific DNS server
Queries Google DNS instead of your default server.
$ nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8#5 Reverse lookup
Finds the domain name for an IP address.
$ nslookup 8.8.8.8
Output:
8.8.8.8.in-addr.arpa name = dns.google
#6 NS records
Shows authoritative name servers for the domain.
$ nslookup -type=NS example.comTips & Best Practices
Test different DNS servers: Compare: nslookup domain 8.8.8.8 vs nslookup domain 1.1.1.1. Different results may indicate DNS propagation delays.
dig is more detailed: dig provides more detailed output with TTLs and authority info. nslookup is simpler for quick lookups.
Deprecated notice: nslookup shows a deprecation warning on some systems. It still works fine, but dig and host are the recommended alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the IP of a domain?
nslookup domain.com returns the IP address. Or use dig domain.com for more detail.
How do I check MX records?
nslookup -type=MX domain.com shows mail server records.
How do I use a different DNS server?
nslookup domain.com 8.8.8.8 queries Google DNS instead of your default.
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