Windows Command #16 introduces nslookup, a simple built-in command for asking DNS which IP address is associated with a domain name.

What nslookup does

DNS works a little like a contacts list: people remember a name such as example.com, while computers use network addresses. nslookup lets you inspect that lookup from Windows Command Prompt.

Try it

nslookup example.com

Open Command Prompt, type the command, and press Enter. The output normally identifies the DNS server used for the query and returns address information for the requested domain.

Practical exercise

1. Run nslookup example.com.
2. Find the DNS server shown near the top.
3. Find the returned address or addresses.
4. Run the command again with another familiar website and compare the result.

Why technicians use it

If a website name is not resolving, nslookup provides a fast first check of DNS. It helps separate a name-resolution problem from other connectivity problems.

Video reference

Use a topic-specific YouTube demonstration of Windows nslookup as the visual reference for this lesson. Video references should directly teach the command rather than serve as generic filler.

Key takeaway

nslookup asks DNS for information about a name. For a beginner, remember the basic pattern: name in → DNS lookup → address information out.