nslookup is a classic DNS query tool that allows administrators to look up domain name information interactively or in batch mode. While dig is more feature-rich, nslookup remains popular for its simplicity and availability across different operating systems, making it useful for cross-platform environments.
Key Features
- Interactive Mode – Query multiple domains in one session
- Cross-Platform – Available on Linux, Windows, and macOS
- Simple Syntax – Easy to learn and use
- Server Selection – Query alternate DNS servers
Basic Usage
# Simple lookup
nslookup example.com
# Query specific DNS server
nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8
# Query specific record type
nslookup -type=MX example.com
nslookup -type=TXT example.com
# Reverse lookup
nslookup 8.8.8.8
# Interactive mode
nslookup
> server 8.8.8.8
> set type=MX
> example.com
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