nslookup
Query DNS servers for name resolution interactively or non-interactively.
Synopsis
nslookup [HOST] [SERVER]
Examples
nslookup example.com
nslookup -type=MX example.com
nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8
nslookup -type=TXT example.com
Common options
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| -type | Query type (A, MX, NS, SOA, TXT, etc) |
| -timeout | Timeout in seconds |
| -debug | Enable debugging output |
About nslookup
The `nslookup` command query DNS servers for name resolution interactively or non-interactively. Networking commands handle connectivity testing, DNS resolution, data transfer, remote access, firewall rules, and traffic analysis.
Linux is the dominant server operating system, and strong networking skills are essential for web hosting, container orchestration, security auditing, and infrastructure management. The command accepts 3 commonly used flags shown above, though the full set of options is available in the man page (`man nslookup`).
The 4 examples on this page cover typical real-world usage patterns that you can copy and adapt for your own workflows.
Related commands
More Network Commands
Other commands in the Network category