Have you ever thought about how the Internet works behind the scenes? Today, everything is connected online, and people are more curious to find details on how the Internet works out of the public eye. Knowing what URLs and IP addresses are and learning how to convert URL to IP address can be invaluable for any curious person.
We’ll explore how to convert URLs to IP addresses manually and also introduce the popular domain-to-IP lookup tools you can use.
This knowledge isn’t just theoretical; it’s practical and essential for anyone who is involved in web development, networking, and online businesses. We break down each step to ensure clarity for beginners with any level of computer knowledge.
First, we directly get to the point by introducing the ways to convert URL to IP address manually and automatically. Then, all essential points in this regard, including URL, IP, DNS, etc. will be explained with examples and in detail.
Top Practical Ways to Convert URL to IP Address
There are several methods available for converting a URL to an IP address. Each of them has its own advantages and use cases:
1. Using DNS Servers
If the URL is not found in the host’s file, your computer will then query DNS servers.
As mentioned in previous parts, DNS servers are the services that translate human-readable URLs into IPs.
Your computer is typically configured to use DNS servers provided by your internet service provider (ISP) or a third-party DNS provider.
2. Using an IP Lookup Tool
Various online tools allow users to perform IP lookups by entering a domain name and getting its corresponding IP in real time.
URL to IP converters work in bulk and help the user to convert large quantities of domain names to IPs in no time.
In the next part, we will clarify the best automatic IP lookup services on the market to help you make the most of your time and effort.
3. Running a Dig Command
Running a Dig command is a straightforward way to convert a URL to an IP address.
Follow the process below:
1. Open Terminal.
2. Type dig followed by the URL you want to convert and press Enter.
3. This command provides detailed DNS information, including the IP address.
4. Ping Command (Windows)
The ping command can resolve a URL to an IP address. It’s simple but doesn’t provide detailed DNS information. It’s similar in function to using nslookup or dig.
Follow the process below:
1. Open Command Prompt.
2. Type ping followed by the URL and press Enter.
3. The output will display the corresponding IP address alongside the ping response.
5. Nslookup Command (Windows and Unix/Linux)
Nslookup command is used to query DNS servers to obtain domain name or IP address mapping information. It’s a standard method for finding out the IP address associated with a URL.
Follow the process below:
1. Open Command Prompt or Terminal.
2. Type nslookup followed by the URL and press Enter.
3. The output will show the IP address associated with the URL.
6. Using Redirect Services
Some services offer URL redirection. It allows users to create custom URLs that redirect to specific IP addresses.
While primarily used for website redirection, these services can also be used to convert URLs to IP addresses.
However, this is not a direct method for URL-to-IP conversion. Redirect services like URL shorteners or custom redirect setups do not actually convert a URL to an IP address directly. They redirect traffic from one URL to another, which might resolve to an IP address.
Choosing the Right Bulk Domain to IP Converter
In the previous part, one of the automatic methods to find the IPs of domains was introduced: using domain to IP converters.
Here, we want to explain the features that a quality IP finder should have:
- Data Accuracy: You should choose the tools that guarantee high accuracy of the provided IPs. Test the free trials of the tool to ensure its precision.
- Speed: It’s important to select a tool that works at high speed. However, it depends on the size of your domain name list.
- Size Limit: If your list of domain names is extensive, you should select a tool that has no limitation on the number of queries.
- User-Friendly Interface: It’s recommended that you choose a tool with a simple and straightforward interface to save time.
- API and Integration Support: A bulk domain to IP converter that offers an API or supports integration with other systems and CRMs is recommended.
- Security and Privacy: Ensure that the tool does not store or misuse your data.
- Availability and Reliability: Choose a consistently available tool. Check for reviews to get an idea of the tool’s performance.
- Cost: Choose an IP checker with transparent pricing plans that fit your budget.
- Support: Ensure that the tool comes with proper support. A helpful support team can make a significant difference when you need assistance.
- Free Trial: Try out the tool offering free trials. This allows you to test its functionality and quality.
By carefully considering these factors and testing the bulk domain to IP converter with your specific domain list, you can choose the best tool that suits your needs.
8 Leading URL to IP Address Converters
Now that you know what features make a URL to IP converter high-quality, let’s introduce some of the best IP lookup tools on the market.
1. CUFinder
CUFinder is a reliable and easy-to-use URL to IP converter that quickly converts domains to IP addresses.
It is ideal for professionals and businesses and offers a comprehensive IP geolocation database, accurate results, and supports bulk conversions.
Sign up for free to experience over 98% data accuracy in CUFinder!
How to Convert URL to IP Address Using CUFinder?
Follow these steps for domain to IP address conversion:
1. Open the CUFinder website and navigate to your dashboard. Click on the “Enrichment Engine” and select the “Domain To IP” service.
2. In this step, write a name for this project, any name you like, and click “Next.”
3. In the designated field, enter the company domain file you want to convert to IP addresses.
4. The imported domains are shown in a list. You must select “Company Domain” from the top sidebar to inform CUFinder that the data in the list’s first column represents the domains.
This action will enable CUFinder to recognize and treat the information in the specified column as domain names.
5. After clicking “Next,” a summary of your order is displayed. Check it, and if it is correct, click “Run the Bulk Request.”
6. After a brief processing time, download the Excel file and view the IP addresses.
It is worth mentioning that CUFinder has over 20 other enrichment tools in addition to its IP lookup tool. Each of these lead data enrichment tools is designed to complete a part of your CRMs in real time.
2. DNS Checker
Another famous domain to IP converter is DNS Checker. You can find the IP address of any website using the quick Domain to IP Lookup tool of DNS Checker.
Just type in a single domain or server name and get accurate information about its IP address instantly. It changes the website’s name into its numeric IP address, giving precise and fast results.
3. ManageEngine Site24X7
ManageEngine Site24X7 is another service that converts a single domain to its IP in real-time. It allows the IP lookup for up to 5 domains free of charge. ManageEngine Site24X7 has many services, including domain, DNS, Sysadmin, converter, format, developer, thread dump, cloud, validation, status, and content tools.
4. IP Tracker
IP Tracker is a versatile and comprehensive tool that converts website addresses to IPs and vice versa. Whether you’re troubleshooting network issues or conducting research, IP Tracker provides reliable results.
5. Whois
Whois.com offers a simple and straightforward URL or domain to IP address conversion tool. Whois.com is suitable for both beginners and experienced users because it has a simple-to-use website and works rapidly.
6. WhatIsMyIPAddress
WhatIsMyIPAddress is a popular domain to IP converter. It is known for its simplicity and effectiveness. It offers a straightforward interface where users can input URLs and instantly retrieve their corresponding IP addresses, making it perfect for quick lookups.
7. IPVoid
IPVoid offers a variety of network tools, including a URL to IP address converter. IPVoid is a valuable resource for network administrators and cybersecurity professionals as it offers various features and has an intuitive interface.
8. MxToolBox
MxToolBox is another website that gets the URL of a domain and provides its corresponding IP. It provides a list of DNS records for a domain.
What Is a URL?
Now, it’s time to introduce a fundamental concept in web browsing: URL!
Then, we will continue by exploring IP and DNS and the main differences between them.
Any person working with the Internet has seen numerous URLs on the web. URLs stand for Uniform Resource Locators. They are the web addresses that we type in our browser in order to access and visit an online resource.
URLs are used for web navigation. They help us access various online resources such as web pages, videos, images, etc.
URLs typically consist of several parts, including:
- The protocol (such as HTTP or HTTPS)
- The domain name or hostname (e.g., example.com)
- The optional path and parameters
For instance, in the URL “https://www.example.com/page1”:
- “https://” is the protocol
- “www.example.com” is the domain name
- “/page1” is the path leading to the specific resource
Another example, in the URL “ftp://ftp.example.net/documents/report.pdf”:
- “ftp://” is the protocol
- “ftp.example.net” is the domain name
- “/documents/report.pdf” is the path leading to the specific resource
What Is an IP Address?
We explained the URL address in the previous part. As we mentioned, when you visit a website online, the URL address of that website can be seen at the top of your browser. It is designed and written in letters so that human beings can read it easily.
But have you ever thought about how artificial intelligence, robots, and computers observe that URL address?
They don’t see it in letters like what we see. They see it as a group of numbers and these numbers are recognized as an IP (Internet Protocol) address.
How Many Types of IPs Are There?
There are two main types of IP addresses:
1. IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4)
IPv4 is the older version of IP address. It is used more widely. It consists of a 32-bit numerical value that is expressed in four octets. These numbers are separated by periods.
Example of IPv4: 192.0.2.1.
There are around 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses. This limited number cannot cover the growing number of internet-connected devices. Because of that, IPv6 was created, which will be explained in the next part.
2. IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)
IPv6 is the latest version of IP addresses. It was designed in order to replace IPv4. It offers a much larger address space with 128 bits. It allows for a virtually unlimited number of unique IP addresses.
IPv6 addresses are represented as a series of hexadecimal digits. They are separated by colons.
Example of IPv6: 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334.
Both IPv4 and IPv6 are used on the Internet today. But IPv6 gradually has become more widespread and it can support the growing demand for IP addresses.
Why Is IP Address Important?
IP addresses are crucial for several reasons. Some of them are mentioned in the list below:
- Device Identification: Every device that is connected to a network needs one IP address. IP allows devices to be identified. It facilitates communication between them.
- Internet Communication: IPs allow devices to communicate with each other over the Internet. It can be accessing websites, sending emails, or streaming videos.
- Routing: IPs play a vital role in routing data packets across networks. Routers use IP addresses to determine the most efficient path for transmitting data between the source and destination devices.
- Security: IPs are essential for network security. They can identify potentially malicious or unauthorized access attempts. They allow network administrators to use appropriate security measures such as firewalls.
- Service Provisioning: IPs are used to manage network resources efficiently. Service providers use IPs to assign resources such as bandwidth, storage, and computing power to users and devices as needed.
What Is a DNS?
Now that you have learned what URLs and IPs are, let’s explain a new concept: DNS!
DNS stands for the Domain Name System. It is like the Internet’s phone book that has two columns: one for URLs and one for IPs!
DNS converts the human-readable URLs that are in letters into robot-readable IP addresses that are in numbers.
Simply put, when you type a domain name or URL into your browser, your device queries DNS servers to obtain the corresponding IP address, allowing it to establish a connection with the requested website.
You can read the letters in URLs but your device cannot! DNS is created to translate each URL to its corresponding IP address, so that devices understand them.
URL vs. IP Address vs. DNS – Inclusive Comparison
We have learned URL, IP, and DNS in detail. Now, it’s time to compare them!
In essence, URLs, IP addresses, and DNS are vital components of the Internet. They work together to enable the smooth exchange of information across the web.
A URL is a human-readable reference to a web resource, while an IP address is a numerical label used to identify devices on a network.
URLs are used for navigation and accessing resources on the web, while IP addresses are used for routing data packets between devices on the Internet.
URLs are mapped to IP addresses through a process called DNS resolution. When a user enters a URL into their web browser, the browser uses DNS servers to look up the corresponding IP address of the domain name specified in the URL. Once the IP address is obtained, the browser can establish a connection to the server hosting the resource.
An example of URL and IP address:
- URL: https://www.google.com
- IP Address: 172.217.3.206
In this example, the URL “https://www.google.com” points to the Google website, while the corresponding IP address “172.217.3.206” is the numerical identifier associated with the server hosting the Google website.
Now that we understand the basics of each let’s explore the differences between URL, IP, and DNS in three aspects:
1. Purpose:
- URLs provide a user-friendly way for human beings to access websites.
- IP addresses are numerical identifiers for devices connected to a network.
- DNS acts as the intermediary that translates URLs into IPs.
2. Representation:
- URLs have human-readable words in letters.
- IPs are numerical labels.
- DNS operates in the background, translating between the two.
3. Functionality:
- URLs facilitate easy navigation on the Internet.
- IPs enable devices to communicate with each other.
- DNS ensures seamless translation between URLs and IPs.
Why Convert URL to IP Address?
As we mentioned before, URLs are convenient to read for human users as they are in letters. And computers rely on IP addresses to locate and communicate with each other.
In this part, we want to talk about the need to convert URL to IP address. Let’s start with a question: Did you know that converting a domain to an IP address is one of the most successful lead-generation strategies that is often overlooked?!
In this section, I will explore the main reasons why to convert URL to IP address and how it helps lead generation!
Geographic Targeting (Low Validity!)
One of the benefits of converting a URL to an IP address is finding the geographic location of your audience.
It can be particularly useful for businesses with a global reach. It helps them tailor their messages and content to suit the culture of each region. This increases communication and interaction.
However due to the use of proxies and VPNs, this method is not always reliable.
Personalization
By identifying the IP address, as I said, you can determine the person’s location. This allows you to personalize the content to match the interests and needs of the audience, which leads to higher engagement and conversion rates with an IP.
Detection of Fraudulent Activities
As I clarified, IP addresses are like fingerprints. This helps to identify suspicious activities, such as multiple registrations from the same IP or transactions from risky locations.
Analysis and Tracking
By analyzing IP addresses, marketers can find the source of web traffic and understand which campaigns drive visitors to their websites.
Lead Generation and B2B Marketing
When a company visits your website, it can obtain its IP address and lead generation using the same address. IP data can support ABM strategies by identifying high-value accounts and personalizing marketing messages to those accounts’ specific needs and interests.
Accurate Lead Attribution
It can provide valuable data into the source of your website traffic. This helps you accurately attribute leads to specific marketing campaigns or channels and allocate your budget more effectively. You can identify which strategies lead to high-quality leads and adjust your efforts to maximize ROI.
Optimized Campaign Performance
When you get the IPs of domains that visit your websites, you can organize better marketing campaigns based on the data that these IPs provide. You can identify patterns and trends in visitor behavior and optimize your strategies for better performance.
B2B Marketing Advantage
Understanding the IP addresses associated with your email campaigns can significantly improve deliverability and engagement. A good sender reputation ensures your emails reach the right audience and avoid spam filters.
Can a Domain Name Map to Multiple IP Addresses?
Many questions of your mind about IP, URL, and DNS were replied. But still one of them has remained: Can a domain name or URL map to multiple IPs?
Yes, a domain name can be associated with multiple IP addresses through a mechanism known as Round Robin DNS.
In Round Robin DNS, multiple IP addresses are assigned to a single domain name, and each time a DNS query is made for that domain, the DNS server returns one of the IP addresses in a rotating order. This helps distribute the load among multiple servers and provides a form of load balancing.
However, Round Robin DNS does not inherently provide failover support. If one of the IPs is down, requests may still be sent to it unless combined with health checks.
Golden Tips for Converting URLs to IPs
Converting domain to IP, as mentioned, is very important and can have many benefits for any business. You can use it for troubleshooting, marketing, security, etc.
However, like any other process, there are some points that you should know and keep in mind when converting a domain to an IP:
1. Use Reliable Tools
When choosing online tools to convert domains to IPs, it’s crucial to use reliable tools to avoid violating various laws, including GDPR, and ensure the accuracy of the provided data.
One of the best ways to convert a domain to IP is to use CUFinder. Using it, you not only get a large number of IPs in a very short time, but you can safely analyze the data that these IPs provide you because the accuracy of data in CUFinder is guaranteed to be over 98%.
Click now to convert the domain to IP for free!
2. Confirmation of Results
If you are manually converting domains to IPs, be sure to check them doubly. Use several tools to check the domain IP addresses. This ensures accuracy and reliability. Also, check other DNS records like MX to learn more about the domain.
3. Regular Monitoring
I will tell you this from personal experience: many large companies change their IP addresses occasionally. This is done to increase the security of their data.
I recommend you regularly check the IP addresses of essential URLs to ensure they have stayed the same.
4. Keep Records
Keep a log of your domain-to-IP lookups for reference and troubleshooting. Document your process and any problems you face.
Everything You Need to Know about Reverse DNS Lookup
In this part, we investigate reverse DNS lookup, which is also known as reverse DNS resolution or reverse IP lookup, which is not primarily for human-readable information; it is mostly used for validating email servers, logging, and identifying malicious activity.
What Is Reverse DNS Lookup?
Reverse DNS Lookup is completely opposite of the DNS lookup process. It includes the process of finding the domain name or URL that is associated with a given IP address.
In reverse DNS lookup, you start with the IP address and search to find the domain name.
What Is the Purpose of Reverse Domain Lookup?
The primary purpose of reverse DNS lookup is to provide human-readable information for an IP. It makes the process of identifying the host associated with that IP easier.
This can be helpful in various scenarios:
- Network Administration: to verify whether an IP address is correctly mapped to a specific domain or host. It helps to confirm the validity of network configurations and resolve potential issues.
- Security: It is used by email servers to check the validity of incoming emails. Some email servers may reject emails from IP addresses that do not have a valid reverse DNS record.
- Log Analysis: It can be helpful in log analysis, especially when analyzing web server logs.
- Abuse Reporting: In cases of abuse or malicious activities originating from specific IP addresses, reverse DNS lookup can help identify the responsible party.
Manual Reverse DNS Lookup
To perform a reverse DNS lookup manually, you can use the following commands:
- ‘nslookup’ on Windows
- ‘dig’ on Linux/Unix systems
Also, some online tools and websites provide reverse DNS lookup services, where you enter the IP address, and they display the corresponding domain name.
The Last Word
Converting a URL to an IP address is a fundamental skill for navigating the Internet and troubleshooting network issues.
If you want to know quickly how to convert URL to IP address, try using the simple and proven methods mentioned above, including the hosts file lookup, dig command, redirect services, IP lookup tools, etc.and.
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