How to Find IP Address of Domain Name in Linux

The host command in Linux is used for DNS (Domain Name System) lookups. It helps retrieve information about domain names, IP addresses, and mail servers. It is commonly used for network diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Alby Andersen

The host command in Linux is used to perform DNS lookups and translate domain names to IP addresses or vice versa. It’s a simple yet powerful tool for querying DNS records and troubleshooting network issues. Below are practical examples to master host:


Lookup the IP Address of a Domain

host example.com  


Resolves example.com to its IP address(es).


Reverse DNS Lookup (IP to Domain)

host 93.184.216.34  


Finds the domain name associated with the IP address 93.184.216.34.


Query a Specific DNS Record Type

host -t MX example.com  
  • -t MX: Queries the Mail Exchange (MX) records for example.com.

Query All DNS Records for a Domain

host -a example.com  
  • -a: Displays all DNS records (A, MX, TXT, etc.) for example.com.

Use a Specific DNS Server

host example.com 8.8.8.8  


Queries the DNS server 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS) for example.com.


Check the TTL (Time to Live) of a DNS Record

host -v -t A example.com  
  • -v: Verbose output, including TTL values.
  • -t A: Queries the A record (IPv4 address).

Query the NS (Name Server) Records

host -t NS example.com  


Displays the authoritative name servers for example.com.


Query the TXT Records

host -t TXT example.com  


Displays TXT records (e.g., SPF, DKIM) for example.com.


Query the CNAME (Canonical Name) Record

host -t CNAME www.example.com  


Finds the canonical name for www.example.com.


Query the SOA (Start of Authority) Record

host -t SOA example.com  


Displays the SOA record, which contains administrative information about the domain.


Query the PTR (Pointer) Record

host -t PTR 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa  


Performs a reverse DNS lookup using the PTR record.


Display Verbose Output

host -v example.com  
  • -v: Shows detailed information about the DNS query.

Query IPv6 Address (AAAA Record)

host -t AAAA example.com  


Displays the IPv6 address(es) for example.com.


Check the DNS Resolution Path

host -d example.com  
  • -d: Debug mode, showing the steps taken to resolve the domain.

Query the SRV (Service) Record

host -t SRV _sip._tcp.example.com  


Finds the SRV record for a specific service (e.g., SIP over TCP).


Key Notes:

  • DNS Record Types: Common types include A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CNAME, and SOA.
  • Verbose Mode: Use -v for detailed output, including TTL and additional records.
  • Custom DNS Server: Specify a DNS server to bypass your default resolver.
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