VPN GUIDES
DNS vs VPN: what changes when you connect?
DNS finds records for domain names; a VPN routes network traffic. Understand their different jobs and why a DNS lookup is not a VPN leak test.
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THE INTERNET, EXPLAINED / 03
Reverse DNS lookup
Look up the reverse DNS record for a public IPv4 or IPv6 address.
Look closer at your DNS
FREE TOOLReady when you are. Enter a domain to get started.
What is reverse DNS?
A normal address lookup starts with a hostname and returns an IP address. Reverse DNS starts with an IP address and requests a PTR record. IPv4 uses the in-addr.arpa namespace; IPv6 uses ip6.arpa.
When is a PTR lookup useful?
Reverse DNS can help you interpret server logs, identify a provider’s hostname convention, or investigate mail-server configuration. The IP address operator usually controls reverse DNS, which can be separate from the administrator of the domain’s forward records.
A PTR hostname is not proof of ownership or trust. It does not list every website hosted at that address, and it cannot identify a person. To compare forward DNS, copy the returned hostname into the DNS lookup tool.
A LITTLE CLARITY
Frequently asked questions
Why does my IP have no hostname?
A PTR record is optional for many uses. The address owner may not publish one. An empty response is not by itself a connection problem.
Does this work for IPv6?
Yes. The tool expands a valid public IPv6 address and builds the reversed hexadecimal name used for IPv6 PTR lookups.
Can I look up a local network address?
This tool accepts public addresses. Private LAN addresses such as 192.168.1.1 need your local network’s DNS service, which public resolvers cannot inspect.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Know your connection.
Choose more privacy.
VVPN connects your phone through a VPN server. Use it on public Wi-Fi and check how your public IP changes when you connect.
Available for Android and iPhone. See the app for current plans and availability.
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