Hostname to IP

The Hostname to IP tool is a free online utility that converts hostnames (domain names) to their corresponding IP addresses. This tool performs DNS (Domain Name System) lookups to resolve domain names like "google.com" or "example.org" to their IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. It's essential for network troubleshooting, server configuration, security analysis, and understanding how domain names map to IP addresses on the internet.

What is a Hostname?

A hostname is a human-readable label assigned to a device connected to a computer network. It's used to identify the device in various forms of electronic communication, such as the World Wide Web. Examples of hostnames include:

• Domain Names: google.com, example.org, github.com
• Subdomains: www.google.com, mail.example.org, api.github.com
• Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN): server.example.com

What is an IP Address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. There are two main versions:

• IPv4: 32-bit addresses written as four decimal numbers (e.g., 192.168.1.1)
• IPv6: 128-bit addresses written in hexadecimal (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334)

How DNS Resolution Works

DNS (Domain Name System) is the phonebook of the internet. When you enter a hostname in your browser, DNS servers translate that hostname into an IP address that computers can understand. The process involves:

1. Query: Your device sends a DNS query for the hostname
2. Recursive Resolution: DNS servers search through the DNS hierarchy
3. Response: The authoritative DNS server returns the IP address(es)
4. Caching: The result is cached for faster future lookups

How to Use the Hostname to IP Tool

1. Enter Hostname: Type or paste a hostname or domain name into the input field
2. Auto-Resolution: The tool automatically resolves the hostname as you type (with a 1-second delay)
3. Manual Resolution: Click the "Resolve IP Address" button for immediate resolution
4. View Results: The resolved IP addresses (both IPv4 and IPv6) will appear in the output section
5. Copy IP Addresses: Click the "Copy" button next to any IP address to copy it to your clipboard
6. View Details: Check the resolution details for more information about the DNS lookup

Key Features

• Dual Protocol Support: Resolves both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
• Real-time Resolution: Automatically resolves hostnames as you type
• Multiple IP Support: Shows all IP addresses associated with a hostname
• IP Type Detection: Automatically identifies and labels IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
• Detailed Information: Provides DNS resolution details and response information
• Easy Copying: One-click copy for each resolved IP address
• Error Handling: Clear error messages for invalid hostnames or resolution failures
• Sample Data: Load sample hostnames to test the tool

Use Cases

• Network Troubleshooting: Identify IP addresses when diagnosing network connectivity issues
• Server Configuration: Find IP addresses for server setup and configuration
• Security Analysis: Verify IP addresses associated with suspicious domains
• Website Migration: Check IP addresses before and after DNS changes
• CDN Verification: Verify that CDN (Content Delivery Network) IPs are correctly configured
• Load Balancer Setup: Identify all IP addresses for load balancer configuration
• Firewall Rules: Get IP addresses to create firewall allow/deny rules
• Educational Purposes: Learn how DNS resolution works and how hostnames map to IPs

Understanding DNS Records

When resolving a hostname, DNS servers return different types of records:

• A Record: Maps a hostname to an IPv4 address
• AAAA Record: Maps a hostname to an IPv6 address
• CNAME Record: Maps a hostname to another hostname (alias)
• MX Record: Specifies mail exchange servers for a domain
• TXT Record: Contains text information, often used for verification

Our tool focuses on A and AAAA records to provide IP address resolution.

Common Hostname Formats

• Top-Level Domains: example.com, example.org, example.net
• Subdomains: www.example.com, mail.example.com, api.example.com
• Country Code TLDs: example.co.uk, example.de, example.jp
• Internationalized Domain Names: 例え.テスト (IDN domains)

IPv4 vs IPv6

Most hostnames resolve to both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses:

• IPv4: The older protocol, still widely used (e.g., 8.8.8.8)
• IPv6: The newer protocol with a much larger address space (e.g., 2001:4860:4860::8888)

Our tool displays both types when available, helping you understand the dual-stack configuration of modern networks.

DNS Resolution Process

The tool uses Google's public DNS API (8.8.8.8) to perform DNS lookups. The process:

1. Validates the hostname format
2. Sends DNS queries for both A (IPv4) and AAAA (IPv6) records
3. Receives and parses the DNS response
4. Extracts and displays all IP addresses
5. Provides detailed information about the resolution

Error Handling

The tool handles various error scenarios:

• Invalid Hostname: Shows an error for malformed hostnames
• NXDOMAIN: Indicates when a hostname doesn't exist
• Network Errors: Handles connection failures gracefully
• No Records: Informs when no IP addresses are found

Best Practices

• Use FQDNs: For accurate results, use fully qualified domain names when possible
• Check Both Protocols: Verify both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses if your network supports both
• Verify Changes: After DNS changes, use this tool to verify the new IP addresses
• Cache Awareness: Remember that DNS results may be cached, so changes might not appear immediately
• Multiple IPs: Some hostnames resolve to multiple IPs for load balancing or redundancy

Example Resolutions

Here are some common hostnames and their typical IP addresses:

• google.com: Resolves to multiple IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
• cloudflare.com: Uses Cloudflare's CDN with multiple IP addresses
• github.com: Resolves to GitHub's server IP addresses

Note: IP addresses can change over time, so always verify current addresses using this tool.

Privacy and Security

• Public DNS: This tool uses Google's public DNS API, which is publicly accessible
• No Data Storage: We don't store or log your DNS queries
• Browser-Based: All resolution happens through your browser
• HTTPS: All communications are encrypted using HTTPS