DNS

NS Record Lookup

Nameservers

Look up a domain's nameservers

We'll query the parent zone and return the authoritative nameservers on file for this domain.

DNS Resolver

Most domains return the same records on every resolver — the choice matters during DNS propagation, or when a filtering resolver blocks a domain.

Tool features

Comprehensive NS record analysis with provider detection and validation
4 checks

Name Server Lookup

Find all authoritative name servers for a domain

Provider Detection

Identify DNS hosting providers and service types

NS Validation

Validate nameserver format and detect configuration issues

Fast Resolution

Quick DNS resolution with multiple resolver options

What is an NS record & how it works

How a domain delegates DNS authority

NS (Nameserver) records declare which servers are authoritative for a domain's DNS zone — the servers that answer all other record queries (A, MX, TXT and so on). They are published in the parent zone as part of the domain's delegation.

This lookup reads the delegation from the parent zone, lists every authoritative nameserver, and checks that the zone's own NS records agree with what the parent publishes — a common source of resolution problems.

NS Record
Names an authoritative nameserver for the domain’s DNS zone.
Delegation
The parent zone points a domain at its nameservers, handing off authority.
Glue Record
The nameserver’s IP, published at the parent so resolvers can reach it.

How to use this tool

Check a domain's nameservers in four steps
1
Enter a domain
Type a domain or URL, e.g. example.com — we clean it to the registrable domain automatically.
2
Pick a resolver (optional)
Open Advanced Settings to query a specific public resolver such as Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).
3
Run the lookup
Click Check NS Records to read the delegation from the parent zone and the domain’s own nameservers.
4
Review the results
Confirm the authoritative nameservers, spot parent/zone mismatches, and read the diagnostics and recommendations.

Related tools

Keep debugging with tools from the same suite
4 tools
DNS Lookup
Perform DNS queries for A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME, and other DNS record types
SOA Lookup
Check Start of Authority (SOA) records for domain authority and DNS zone information
DNS Servers
Find and test DNS servers for a domain or IP address with performance metrics
Public DNS Speed Test
Compare response times across popular public DNS resolvers like Google, Cloudflare, and Quad9

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about NS records
5 Q&A

An NS (Nameserver) record names a server that is authoritative for a domain — the server that answers DNS queries for that zone.

At least two, on separate networks, for redundancy. Most registrars provide two to four nameservers by default.

When a nameserver is inside the domain it serves (e.g. ns1.example.com for example.com), the parent zone must publish its IP as a glue record so resolvers can reach it.

The parent zone delegates to a set of nameservers; those servers should publish the same NS set. A mismatch can cause inconsistent or failed resolution.

Delegation changes are governed by the TTL at the parent (often 24–48 hours), so allow up to two days for a nameserver change to fully propagate.