Find the IP addresses associated with a hostname/domain name/website using our free tool.
Both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are checked through a DNS interrogation. Enter the hostname you are looking to reverse locate the IP for below and wait for the results. Don’t include the protocol (“http://” or “https://”).
If you click on the Check details links for each IP result you will be able to check the location and other important details associated with that IP.
How Does the Hostname to IP Lookup Tool Work?
The IP address is determined by querying the DNS (Domain Name Servers) until the domain name is matched – a process often called DNS lookup, NSLOOKUP, or sometimes mistakenly, IP lookup. The Domain Name System (short for DNS) is a decentralized system with the sole purpose of mapping domain names and hostnames to specific unique IP addresses.
A forward DNS lookup is initiated when a client, such as a web browser, needs to connect to a specific host on the Internet. The client sends a request to a DNS server, asking for the IP address corresponding to a given hostname. The DNS server then queries other DNS servers in a hierarchical manner to resolve the hostname into an IP address.
Once the IP address is retrieved, the client uses it to establish a network connection with the host and access the required service. This process occurs seamlessly in the background, making it invisible to the user.
Forward DNS lookups rely on a type of DNS record known as an A (Address) record, which maps hostnames to IP addresses. These records are stored in forward DNS zones, which are organized hierarchically, with each node representing a segment of the domain name space.
In addition to A records, DNS supports various other record types for different purposes. For instance:
- MX (Mail Exchange) records map hostnames to mail servers.
- CNAME (Canonical Name) records define alias hostnames.
- SRV records provide information about specific services.
This combination of record types enables DNS to serve as a robust and scalable system for mapping hostnames to IP addresses and other essential data.
To find a host name (or domain name) from an IP address, a request is sent to that IP, asking the corresponding computer to return its name. Typically, this name aligns with the domain name, but since many computers host multiple domains, the returned name might be one of those domains or something entirely different.
Additionally, there are certain special IP addresses. For example, 127.0.0.1 is universally reserved for every computer and is always associated with the name ‘localhost.’ Furthermore, a computer may have multiple IP addresses; one of these will be recognized by other computers for external communication.
Host Name or Domain Name: What is the Difference?
There is often confusion between the terms “host name” and “domain name,” as they are related but serve distinct purposes.
Domain Name
A domain name is the address you purchase from a registrar, such as binaryfork.com. Importantly, a domain name does not include the www prefix. Domains can be further divided into sub-domains, like www.binaryfork.com. Once you own a domain, you can create an unlimited number of sub-domains.
Sub-domains can be assigned to specific host machines (e.g., a PC), and multiple sub-domains can point to the same host machine. This allocation is managed through DNS (Domain Name System) records, which map each sub-domain to the IP address of its corresponding host machine. For instance, when someone accesses www.binaryfork.com, DNS translates this sub-domain into an IP address, allowing the request to be routed through the network to the correct host machine.
In the early days of the Internet, each sub-domain typically had its own unique IP address, and it was common for one host machine to correspond to just a single sub-domain. However, modern practices often involve multiple sub-domains sharing the same IP address. Additionally, domain names themselves are frequently resolved to the IP address of the host machine running the primary www sub-domain.
Host Name
A host name is the unique identifier assigned to a specific machine within a network. This name is set during the machine’s operating system configuration and often reflects its primary function. For example:
- A machine responsible for converting host names to IP addresses via DNS might be named
dns.binaryfork.com. - A web server might be named
www.binaryfork.com.
To determine a host name from an IP address, a request can be sent directly to the machine using its IP address. The host will then respond with its assigned host name.
In summary:
- A domain name refers to an address purchased for use on the Internet and can include multiple sub-domains.
- A host name is a specific label given to a machine within a network, often tied to its role or purpose.
Details About IP Addresses Can Reveal Important Information, But is Not 100% Accurate
IP addresses are distributed by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), which manage allocations within specific geographic regions. This system makes it relatively straightforward to estimate the country associated with an IP address. For example, IP blocks allocated to a company are generally intended for use in the country where the organization operates. However, there is no strict enforcement preventing companies from using these IPs in other countries.
A practical scenario might involve a company receiving an IP range (e.g., X.Y.Z.0 to X.Y.Z.255) for operations in England but assigning some of these addresses to devices in its New York branch office via a private network. Consequently, while IP geolocation is highly accurate at the country level – often exceeding 95% accuracy – it cannot guarantee 100% precision due to such exceptions.
Need to look up a third-party IP address? Use our “IP Address Lookup” tool.
Additionally, factors like virtual private networks (VPNs), proxy servers, and dynamic IP allocations further complicate geolocation accuracy. These technologies can obscure the actual location of an IP address, leading to occasional errors. Despite these limitations, country-level accuracy remains reliable for most practical purposes, typically correct around 90-99% of the time.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hostname IP lookup
A hostname is a human-readable label assigned to a device on a network that allows the device to be easily identified without using its numerical IP address. Example: “www.example.com“, “google.com”.
An IP address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to the Internet or any local network. The IP serves as the device’s location address, allowing data to be sent to and received from the device. Example: “192.168.1.1”, “78.56.125.29” (old IPv4 format) or “2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334” (new IPv6 format).
A public IP address is an IP address that can be accessed directly from the Internet and is generally assigned to your home network router by your internet service provider (ISP). Each personal device also has a private IP that remains hidden when you connect to the Internet through your router’s public IP.
DNS (Domain Name System) is the service used to translate domain names to IP addresses so browsers can load Internet resources directly from their server.
No, a hostname and an IP address are distinct identifiers for the same web location. While a hostname is a human-readable label, an IP address is a numerical identifier.
Hostnames are easier for humans to remember and use than numerical IP addresses. They provide a consistent way to access resources even when physical IP addresses change (through DNS), improve security by hiding IP information, and allow for more meaningful naming conventions in networks.
Every LAN device must have an IP address. That being said, a device hostname is optional. The IP addressing may either be static (set up once), or dynamically assigned at boot time using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) by the router that manages the network where the devices is located.
The most significant difference between IPv4 and IPv6 is that IPv4 uses a 32-bit address while IPv6 employs a 128-bit address. IPv6 allows it to offer a much greater range of available IP addresses.
The entire hostname, including the delimiting dots, has a maximum of 253 ASCII characters. A complete URL address can be much longer.
These IP addresses are for private use, they don’t conflict with public IP addresses on the Internet. This means your computer can have a 192.168.xxx.xxx address in your home, and someone else can have the same one in their home, without any issues, as long as these two devices with identical IP are not located in the same network.
Read our articles about IP addresses to find out more:
- How to Find Your Computer’s Hostname in Windows?
- What’s The Difference Between an Internal IP and an External IP Address?
- How to Find the External IP Address of Your Home Network (Public IP)
- How to Find The Current IP Address in Windows 11 (Private IP)
- How to Find Your Computer’s IP Address in Windows 10
