Learn how Reverse DNS works, why PTR records matter, and how to troubleshoot them.
Normally DNS converts a domain name into an IP address. For example:
Reverse DNS does the opposite. It converts an IP address back into a hostname.
Reverse DNS is performed using a PTR (Pointer) record. Unlike normal DNS records, PTR records are stored in special reverse lookup zones managed by the owner of the IP address.
PTR records are usually controlled by the organization that owns the public IP address. For most businesses, this means your Internet Service Provider or cloud provider manages reverse DNS. If you're hosting services in Microsoft Azure, AWS, DigitalOcean, or another cloud platform, you'll typically configure PTR records through that provider.
Enter any public IPv4 or IPv6 address to instantly discover its hostname.