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What Is dig?

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dig is a command-line tool used for querying the Domain Name System (DNS). It stands for Domain Information Groper. It is a widely used utility for diagnosing DNS issues and gathering information about DNS records.

dig gives you a direct window into the DNS. It lets you ask a DNS server specific questions about a domain and returns a detailed response, which can be invaluable for troubleshooting problems like incorrect IP addresses, email delivery issues, or domain delegation errors.

How dig works

When you run a dig command, you instruct your computer to perform a direct query against a DNS server. The command allows you to specify exactly what information you are looking for, such as the record type (A, CNAME, MX, etc.) and the specific DNS server you want to query.

For example, a command like dig dnsimple.com will perform a standard lookup for the domain’s A record. The output is detailed: it shows the answer (the IP address), which server answered the query, how long it took, and the sections of the DNS response. To follow every step of the lookup from the root name servers down, add the +trace option.

dig’s role in troubleshooting

The detailed output of dig provides the following key information:

  • The answer: Shows the actual DNS records returned, such as IP addresses or mail server hostnames.
  • The authority: When included, lists the authoritative name servers for the zone, which shows who is responsible for it.
  • Query time: Tells you how long the query took, which helps in diagnosing performance issues.
  • Status codes: Provides a status (e.g., NOERROR, NXDOMAIN) that tells you whether the query was successful, if the domain does not exist, or if there was a server error.

Analyzing this information helps you pinpoint where a DNS problem lies, whether it is an incorrect record, an unresponsive name server, or a caching issue.

You can learn more about using dig in How to Use dig. A quick reference for dig is available in our dig Reference Guide.

Have more questions?

If you have additional questions or need any assistance troubleshooting your DNS, just contact support, and we will be happy to help. You can also read more about DNS hosting at DNSimple.