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PHP checkdnsrr() Function: Usage and Examples

Learn how PHP checkdnsrr works with practical examples, important behavior, relevant alternatives and common mistakes.

1 views Published Oct 16, 2026 Updated Oct 16, 2026

Checks whether DNS records of a chosen type are available for a host.

What Is checkdnsrr() in PHP?

Checks whether DNS records of a chosen type are available for a host.

Its syntax is:

checkdnsrr(string $hostname, string $type = "MX"): bool

Parameters:

  • $hostname — Accepted as string; required argument.
  • $type — Accepted as string; optional default "MX".

Return type: bool. DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.

Availability: Requires network DNS access.

Example 1: Basic Usage

<?php

var_dump(checkdnsrr("example.com", "A"));

Result: Results and availability depend on the current PHP process, system permissions, cache, filesystem or installed locale. DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.

Example 2: A Different Input

<?php

var_dump(checkdnsrr("example.com", "MX"));

Result: Results and availability depend on the current PHP process, system permissions, cache, filesystem or installed locale. DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.

Practical Example: Applying It in a Program

<?php

$hostname = "example.com"; foreach (["A", "AAAA", "MX"] as $recordType) { echo "$recordType: " . (checkdnsrr($hostname, $recordType) ? "found" : "absent") . PHP_EOL; }

Result: Results and availability depend on the current PHP process, system permissions, cache, filesystem or installed locale. DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.

Important Behavior and Edge Cases

  • Key behavior: DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.
  • Environment: Requires network DNS access.

Comparison With Related Functions

FunctionPurpose
checkdnsrr()Checks whether DNS records of a chosen type are available for a host.
dns_get_record()dns_get_record() returns DNS record details; checkdnsrr() answers whether a chosen record type exists.

Common Beginner Mistakes

MistakeCorrect Approach
Ignoring this behavior: DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthyDNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.

Key Takeaways

  • Checks whether DNS records of a chosen type are available for a host.
  • DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.
  • Requires network DNS access.

Summary: DNS answers depend on network conditions and do not prove that a service is accessible or trustworthy.

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