dnstimelineDomain names and IP addresses
DNS (Domain Name System) is the system that translates human-readable domain names like "example.com" into IP addresses that computers use to communicate. Without DNS, you would need to remember IP addresses like 93.184.216.34 to visit websites.
How DNS works
When you type a domain name in your browser:
- Your computer queries a DNS resolver (usually your ISP's)
- The resolver checks its cache or queries authoritative DNS servers
- The IP address is returned to your browser
- Your browser connects to the web server at that IP
Uses of DNS history
Past DNS records can help you investigate:
- Changes to a domain’s hosting providers
- Domains that have used the same hosts or IP addresses
- DNS changes associated with a reported incident
Try DNS Timeline to plot the DNS history of any domain.