# dig

> DNS Lookup utility.

- Lookup the IP(s) associated with a hostname (A records):

`dig +short {{hostname.com}}`

- Lookup the mail server associated with a given domain name (MX record):

`dig +short {{hostname.com}} MX`

- Specify an alternate DNS server to query (8.8.8.8 is google's public DNS):

`dig @8.8.8.8 {{hostname.com}}`

- Perform a reverse DNS lookup on an IP address (PTR record):

`dig -x 8.8.8.8`

- Find authoritative name servers for the zone and display SOA records:

`dig +nssearch {{hostname.com}}`