What Is NS Lookup?
An NS lookup (nameserver lookup) queries the Domain Name System to find the authoritative nameservers for a domain. Nameservers are the DNS servers responsible for storing and serving all DNS records — A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, TXT, and more — for a given domain. When you perform an NS record lookup, you discover which servers control a domain's DNS configuration.
Our free nameserver lookup tool goes beyond basic NS record queries. It automatically detects DNS providers like Cloudflare, AWS Route53, and Google Cloud DNS, measures each nameserver's response time, resolves their IP addresses, and verifies DNS delegation. Whether you need to check nameservers during a DNS migration, troubleshoot resolution failures, or audit a domain's DNS infrastructure, this tool provides complete nameserver intelligence.
How to Check Nameservers of a Domain (3 Methods)
There are several ways to check nameservers and find NS records for any domain. Our online tool is the fastest and most comprehensive method, but command-line alternatives are useful for system administrators.
nslookup -type=ns example.com. This queries NS records directly and shows all authoritative nameservers for the domain. Available on all major operating systems.dig example.com NS +short for a quick NS record lookup, or dig example.com NS for full details including TTL values. For complete DNS record lookup, use our dedicated DNS Lookup tool.What NS Lookup Reveals
When to Use NS Lookup
What Is an NS Record? Understanding Nameservers
An NS record (Name Server record) is one of the most important DNS record types. It specifies which DNS servers are authoritative for a domain — meaning they hold the master copy of all DNS records for that domain and respond to queries from DNS resolvers worldwide.
How NS Records Work
- NS records are stored at the parent zone (e.g., the .com registry)
- They delegate authority: "for example.com, ask ns1.provider.com"
- DNS resolvers follow NS records to find authoritative answers
- Changed at your domain registrar, not your DNS hosting panel
NS Record Example
This shows example.com is delegated to Cloudflare's nameservers with a 86400-second (24-hour) TTL.
Choosing the Right DNS Provider
Different DNS providers offer varying levels of performance, security, and features. Our nameserver checker helps you discover which provider any domain uses and evaluate their infrastructure quality. Here are the most common DNS providers our tool detects:
Cloudflare DNS
Free tier with global anycast, DDoS protection, and sub-20ms response times. Pattern: *.ns.cloudflare.com
AWS Route 53
Enterprise DNS with 100% SLA, health checks, and routing policies. Pattern: ns-*.awsdns-*.com
Google Cloud DNS
Google's infrastructure with global anycast and automatic scaling. Pattern: ns-cloud-*.googledomains.com
Use our NS lookup tool to check nameservers of any domain and see which DNS provider powers it. Regular monitoring helps detect unauthorized nameserver changes that could indicate a DNS hijacking attempt. For complete domain details, combine with our WHOIS Lookup tool.
Nameserver Configuration Best Practices
- Use at least two nameservers for redundancy and high availability
- Choose geographically distributed nameservers for global performance
- Enable DNSSEC for cryptographic authentication of DNS responses (check via DNS Lookup)
- Monitor nameserver response times regularly with our NS lookup tool
- Verify NS records after any registrar or DNS changes
- Use premium DNS for business-critical domains (DDoS protection, SLA)
- Keep registrar credentials secure to prevent unauthorized NS changes
- Ensure all nameservers serve identical, consistent DNS records
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