Free DNS Record Lookup
Enter any domain name to instantly view all DNS records including A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, and SOA records.
What Are DNS Records?
DNS (Domain Name System) records are the instructions that tell the internet how to handle requests for your domain. When someone types your domain into a browser, DNS records determine which server responds, where emails are delivered, and how your domain's ownership is verified.
DNS Record Types Explained
A Records map a domain to an IPv4 address. This is the most fundamental DNS record -- it tells browsers which server to connect to when visiting your domain.
AAAA Records are the IPv6 equivalent of A records, mapping a domain to a 128-bit IPv6 address.
CNAME Records create an alias from one domain to another. These are essential for custom domain setups in SaaS platforms, where a user's domain (like app.yourcompany.com) points to the platform's infrastructure.
MX Records specify which mail servers handle email for your domain, along with priority values that determine the order servers are tried.
TXT Records store text data and are commonly used for domain verification (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and proving domain ownership.
NS Records identify the authoritative name servers for your domain -- the servers that hold your DNS zone data.
SOA Records contain administrative information about your DNS zone, including the primary name server, admin email, and timing parameters for zone transfers.
DNS Records for Custom Domain Setups
If you're building a SaaS platform that supports custom domains, your users will typically need to add a CNAME record pointing their domain to your infrastructure. This is how platforms like Shopify, Notion, and countless others enable branded experiences for their customers.
The process involves DNS verification (confirming the user owns the domain), SSL certificate provisioning, and request routing -- which can be complex to build from scratch. Tools like SaaSKevin automate this entire workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are DNS records?
- DNS (Domain Name System) records are instructions that tell the internet how to handle requests for a domain. They map domain names to IP addresses (A/AAAA records), define mail servers (MX records), verify domain ownership (TXT records), and more.
- What is a CNAME record used for?
- A CNAME (Canonical Name) record creates an alias from one domain to another. It's commonly used for custom domain setups in SaaS platforms, where a user's custom domain (e.g., app.example.com) points to the SaaS provider's infrastructure.
- How do I set up DNS for a custom domain?
- To set up a custom domain, you typically add a CNAME record pointing your domain to your provider's hostname, or an A record pointing to their IP address. The exact steps depend on your DNS provider (Cloudflare, Route 53, Google Cloud DNS, GoDaddy, Namecheap, and others).
- Why are my DNS changes not showing up?
- DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide, though most changes take effect within a few minutes to a few hours. If changes aren't showing, check that you've saved the records correctly and try clearing your local DNS cache.
- What is the difference between A and CNAME records?
- An A record maps a domain directly to an IP address (e.g., 93.184.216.34). A CNAME record maps a domain to another domain name (e.g., app.example.com → myapp.saaskevin.com). CNAMEs are more flexible because if the target IP changes, you don't need to update your record.
Need setup examples for real SaaS products? Browse our industry guides and explore all free domain tools.