Skip to main content
protocols.pageprotocols.page
PTR

PTR Record

Active

The PTR (Pointer) record enables reverse DNS lookups – mapping an IP address back to a domain name.

reversed-ip.in-addr.arpa. TTL IN PTR hostname

In one line

The PTR (Pointer) record enables reverse DNS lookups – mapping an IP address back to a domain name. PTR records live in the in-addr.arpa (IPv4) or ip6.arpa (IPv6) zones and are controlled by the IP address owner (usually the ISP). Email servers use PTR records to verify sender legitimacy.

Description

PTR records are used for reverse DNS lookups, translating IP addresses back to hostnames. They live in special zones: IPv4 addresses are reversed and appended with .in-addr.arpa, while IPv6 addresses use .ip6.arpa. PTR records are set by the IP address owner and require the ISP or hosting provider to create them.

Examples

IPv4 PTR record
shell
34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa.    86400    IN    PTR    example.com.
Reverse lookup
shell
dig -x 93.184.216.34

;; ANSWER SECTION:
34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa.    86400    IN    PTR    example.com.

Related Record Types

A

Specification

RFC 1035 – DNS PTR record specification →