NetQuery Tools: DNS, email, and network investigation platform

Authoritative DNS Lookup

Discover which DNS servers are authoritative for a domain.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an authoritative DNS server?
An authoritative DNS server hosts the original DNS records for a domain and provides the official answers to DNS queries for that domain.
How can I find the authoritative DNS servers for a domain?
Use NS lookups to list the domain's NS records. This tool queries your domain to show the authoritative name servers.
Why are authoritative DNS servers important?
They are the source of truth for DNS data. Correct configuration ensures reliable name resolution and supports security features like DNSSEC.
What is the difference between authoritative and recursive DNS servers?
Authoritative servers store original records, while recursive servers query them on behalf of clients and cache the results.
How do authoritative DNS servers work?
When queried, authoritative servers respond with the records they host; recursive servers use those responses to answer clients.
Can a domain have multiple authoritative DNS servers?
Yes. Multiple authoritative servers provide redundancy and improve reliability.