What command can be used to execute various DNS queries in an interactive or noninteractive mode?

The command used to execute various DNS queries in both interactive and noninteractive modes is nslookup. This command is widely utilized for querying the Domain Name System (DNS) to obtain domain name or IP address mappings.

In interactive mode, nslookup allows users to query multiple DNS records without having to reissue the command; users can simply type queries as needed. This is particularly useful for troubleshooting DNS issues or quickly checking the status of DNS records. In noninteractive mode, nslookup can take a domain name as an argument from the command line and return the corresponding records, which is ideal for scripting or automated tasks.

The flexibility in operation—from interactive to noninteractive mode—makes nslookup a valuable tool for network administrators and others working with DNS. Other commands like dig and host also allow DNS queries but do not have the same level of interactivity that nslookup offers. While dig is often preferred for more advanced queries due to its output formatting and options, nslookup remains a standard and accessible choice for most DNS query needs.