DNS Lookup FAQs

A DNS lookup queries the global Domain Name System to retrieve publicly available records that define how a domain functions on the internet.

No. DNS lookups are read-only queries. They do not modify, update, or interact with your domain configuration in any way.

DNS lookups may return A, AAAA, MX, TXT, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, NS, SOA, and SRV records depending on how the domain is configured.

A records map domains to IPv4 addresses, while AAAA records map domains to IPv6 addresses.

MX records define which mail servers are responsible for receiving email for a domain.

TXT records store text-based data such as SPF, DKIM, DMARC policies, and domain ownership verification.

SPF specifies which servers are authorised to send email on behalf of a domain and helps prevent email spoofing.

DKIM adds a cryptographic signature to outgoing email, allowing receiving servers to verify message authenticity.

DMARC defines how receiving mail servers should handle messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks.

Mail servers use DNS records to verify sender identity. Missing or incorrect records often cause spam filtering or rejection.

DNS records are cached across the internet according to their TTL values, meaning updates may take time to appear everywhere.

TTL (time-to-live) defines how long DNS records are cached by resolvers before being refreshed.

Resolvers may cache records differently or query different authoritative servers at different times.

No. Email relies on direct SMTP connections. Proxying mail servers can interfere with delivery and authentication.

SRV records define service-specific endpoints such as VoIP, chat, or directory services.

The SOA record defines zone authority information, refresh timing, and administrative details for a DNS zone.

Failures can occur due to typos, missing records, DNSSEC issues, network problems, or misconfigured name servers.

DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures to DNS responses to prevent tampering and spoofing.

No. Lookups are performed live against public DNS infrastructure and discarded immediately.

No. Velohost does not log domains, IP addresses, queries, or lookup history.

Yes. DNS lookups only retrieve publicly available information and pose no risk to your domain.

DNS lookups are useful when setting up hosting, troubleshooting email delivery, verifying records, or diagnosing propagation issues.

Common mistakes include missing MX records, incorrect SPF syntax, proxying email servers, and forgetting TTL delays.