Key DNS record types
- A — maps a hostname to an IPv4 address.
- AAAA — maps a hostname to an IPv6 address.
- CNAME — aliases one name to another (useful for subdomains and CDNs).
- MX — specifies mail servers for a domain (important for email delivery).
- TXT — contains text information; often used for verification and SPF/DKIM/DMARC email policies.
- NS — lists authoritative name servers for the domain.
- SRV — defines services and ports (used by some apps and VoIP).
Why run a DNS Check?
A DNS Check helps you detect problems that cause downtime, email failures, or slow DNS resolution. Common issues include stale records, missing MX records, misconfigured CNAMEs, or mismatched TTLs (time to live) that cause propagation delays.
How to interpret DNS Check results
A typical DNS Check will return:
- List of record types and values.
- DNSSEC validation status (if DNSSEC is in use).
- TTL values — lower TTLs mean faster propagation for updates, higher TTLs reduce query load.
- Response time / lookup latency.
Troubleshooting tips
- If your site is unreachable, check A/AAAA records and NS records first.
- If emails bounce or are marked as spam, verify MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC TXT records.
- When changing DNS, reduce TTL beforehand if you anticipate quick rollbacks or migrations.
- Use multiple DNS providers or secondary DNS to improve resilience for critical services.
2. Domain Check — Check if a Domain Name is Available
A Domain Check answers a simple but crucial question: is the domain name I want available for registration? This tool queries domain registries and WHOIS records to determine availability and shows available alternatives or suggestions.
What the Domain Check looks for
- Registration status — registered or available.
- Registrant details (if registered and not privacy-protected).
- Expiration date — domains may be registered but expiring soon and available later through backorder.
- Premium or reserved status — some domains are held by registries or offered at premium prices.
Smart domain search strategies
- Use short, memorable names. Avoid long or complicated strings.
- Prefer .com for commercial projects, but consider country-code TLDs (.eg, .uk) or new gTLDs (.app, .tech) for availability and branding.
- Check trademark issues to avoid legal conflicts.
- Test multiple TLDs and slight variations (hyphens, pluralization) — but beware of confusingly similar domains that damage brand clarity.
When a domain is taken
If a desired domain is already taken, options include:
- Contacting the owner to negotiate a purchase (WHOIS data helps if privacy is not enabled).
- Using a domain broker or marketplace.
- Backordering the domain to try to capture it when it expires.
- Choosing an alternative or a different TLD.
3. Domain Generator — Search and Find Available Domains
A Domain Generator combines creativity and technology. It helps you brainstorm domain name ideas, checks availability across TLDs in real time, and suggests brandable alternatives.
How domain generators work
Domain generators take a list of keywords and apply common naming techniques: concatenation, prefix/suffix addition, phonetic tweaks, and TLD swapping. Advanced generators may include:
- Brandability scoring — rates names by memorability and pronunciation.
- Domain length and syllable filters.
- Checks for trademark conflicts or social media handle availability.
Techniques to generate better names
- Combine keywords: combine two short, relevant words (e.g.,
cloud+nest→cloudnest). - Add prefixes/suffixes: try
get,my,hub,ioorappas natural-sounding affixes. - Use non-English terms: sometimes short words from other languages provide unique, available options.
- Invented words: make a brandable, easy-to-pronounce coined term (e.g., "Spotify").
Practical workflow when using a generator
- Enter 2–4 keywords describing your brand or service.
- Apply filters: maximum length, preferred TLDs, avoid hyphens.
- Review suggestions and check instant availability across preferred TLDs.
- Reserve the best option and buy matching TLDs where possible (protect brand equity).
4. Whois Checker — Find Out Who Owns a Domain
A Whois Checker fetches registration information for a domain from public WHOIS databases. It reveals the registrar, registration and expiration dates, name servers, and the registrant’s contact details — unless masked by privacy protection.
What WHOIS returns
- Registrar name (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).
- Registration and expiration dates.
- Name servers.
- Registrant, administrative, and technical contact details (may be privacy-protected).
- Status codes (e.g.,
clientTransferProhibited), which indicate transfer or locking states.
Why WHOIS is useful
WHOIS helps:
- Contact domain owners for purchase or licensing negotiations.
- Verify expiry windows and set up backorders.
- Investigate malicious domains — WHOIS metadata can support threat research.
Privacy and GDPR
Many registrars offer privacy or WHOIS masking. Due to privacy laws like GDPR, much registrant data is often hidden for EU-related registrations. When contact data is masked, a registrar or privacy service will typically provide a forwarding address for legitimate inquiries.
Putting the Four Tools Together — Real-World Workflows
These tools work best in combination. Here are practical workflows for common scenarios.
Scenario A — Launching a new product or site
- Use Domain Generator to brainstorm names and filter by brandability and length.
- Run Domain Check to confirm availability and view pricing across TLDs.
- Purchase the chosen domain and register matching TLDs to protect the brand.
- Configure DNS records (A/AAAA, CNAME, MX) and run a DNS Check to confirm correctness.
- Run a Whois Checker to confirm registration details and set appropriate privacy settings.
Scenario B — Troubleshooting email delivery
- Run a DNS Check to verify MX, SPF (TXT), DKIM (TXT), and DMARC (TXT) records.
- Confirm MX points to the correct mail provider, and that SPF includes legitimate senders.
- Check TTLs and DNS propagation if recent changes were made.
- Use WHOIS to ensure domain isn’t expired or in redemption status.