IP Lookup: Top 8 Ways to Check an IP Address

Every device connected to a network, whether a local area network (LAN) or the Internet (WAN), has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. This address is essential for identifying each device on the network. An IP address can be in two formats: IPv4 and IPv6. Check it out IP address lookup tool for online security

An IP lookup, or IP address lookup, is finding information associated with an IP address. This can include details about the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or web hosting provider linked to that IP. Typically, people who perform IP lookups include system administrators, security researchers, and technical users investigating issues like phishing or spamming.

Best IP Lookup Tools

Ping

Ping is a simple command that checks if a device is online. It sends packets of data to a specified IP address and waits for a response. If the device is reachable, it returns information like response time. For example, you can type ping 8.8.8.8 to check Google’s public DNS server. The response shows how many packets were sent and received.

Dig

Dig stands for Domain Information Groper. This tool queries DNS servers to get information about a domain or IP address. For example, typing dig A example.com will return the IP address linked to that domain. You can also simplify the output with +short, making it easier to read.

nslookup

Like Dig, nslookup is another tool used to find the IP address associated with a domain name. You simply type nslookup example.com, and it will return the IP address along with the DNS server used for the query.

Host

The host command can perform both forward and reverse lookups. To find the IP of a domain, you can use host example.com, which will return the IP address. For reverse lookups, you can input an IP address to find the associated domain name.

WHOIS

The WHOIS command provides detailed information about an IP address, such as the organization responsible for it and contact details. To use it, type whois 8.8.8.8, and it will display various details, including the network name and email for reporting abuse.

Nmap

Nmap is a powerful network scanning tool that can also perform IP lookups. You can run a command like Nmap 8.8.8.8 –script whois-ip to get information similar to the WHOIS command, including network details.

BgpView

BgpView is a web-based tool that allows you to look up IP addresses and view information such as the Autonomous System Number (ASN) and associated domains. It provides a user-friendly interface for those who prefer not to use command-line tools.

Historical IP Lookup

Tools like SecurityTrails allow you to perform historical IP lookups, showing past data about a domain or IP address. This can be useful for security investigations to see where a domain was hosted or what emails were sent.