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dig makes DNS queries!

$ dig google.com

answers have 5 parts:

  • query: google.com
  • TTL 22
  • clas: IN (for “internet”, ignore this)
  • record type: A
  • record value: 172.217.13.110

dig TYPE domain.com

this lets you choose which DNS record to query for!

types to try:

  • NS
  • MX
  • TXT
  • CNAME
  • A (default)

dig @ 8.8.8.8 domain

(google DNS server)

dig@server lets you pick which DNS server to query. Useful when your system DNS is misbehaving :)

dig + trace domain

traces how the domain gets resolved, starting at the root nameservers.

if you just updated DNS, dig + trace should show the new record.

dig -x 172.217.13.174

makes a reverse DNS query -find which domain resolves to an IP! Same as dig ptr 172.217.13.174.in.addr.arpa

dig +short domain

Usually dig pints lots of output! With +short it just prints the DNS record.