Dns Zig Reference Documentation

Dns

Current Version: 11.6.1

Chilkat.Dns

Configure DNS resolution and query DNS records directly from Chilkat.

Chilkat.Dns is a focused class for DNS configuration and DNS record querying. It allows applications to control the nameservers used by Chilkat, query common DNS record types into JSON, configure DNS-over-TLS preference, set DNS query timeouts, and obtain useful diagnostics through LastErrorText.

DNS record queries

Query common DNS record types and receive structured JSON results that are easy to inspect or pass to other application logic.

Nameserver control

Configure the nameservers Chilkat uses instead of relying only on the operating system's default DNS configuration.

DNS-over-TLS preference

Prefer DNS-over-TLS when appropriate for applications that need encrypted DNS lookups.

Timeout settings

Control how long DNS queries may wait before failing, which is useful for responsive applications and troubleshooting.

Application-wide behavior

Nameserver settings affect DNS resolution across Chilkat classes, not only the current Dns object.

Diagnostics

Use LastErrorText to troubleshoot DNS configuration, lookup failures, timeout problems, or nameserver connectivity issues.

Common pattern: Use Dns either to perform direct DNS lookups, or to configure the DNS behavior used by Chilkat as a whole. Because nameserver changes can affect DNS resolution across Chilkat classes, treat them as application-wide configuration rather than object-local state.

Object Creation

// Add the package once:
//     zig fetch --save https://chilkatdownload.com/11.6.1/chilkat-zig-11.6.1.tar.gz
// and in build.zig:
//     const chilkat = b.dependency("chilkat", .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize });
//     exe.root_module.addImport("chilkat", chilkat.module("chilkat"));
const chilkat = @import("chilkat");

// Once per process, before any other Chilkat call:
try chilkat.unlockBundle("Anything for 30-day trial");

const dns = try chilkat.Dns.init();
defer dns.deinit();
pub fn init() Allocator.Error!Dns

Creates the underlying native Chilkat object. Dns is a one-pointer struct passed by value; copying it copies the handle (two names for one object). Returns error.OutOfMemory if the library could not allocate the object. Use an object from one thread at a time; it may be handed from one thread to another.

pub fn deinit(self: Dns) void

Releases the native object. Call it exactly once per object (usually with defer); the handle is invalid afterwards. Objects returned by methods are owned by the caller too and are released the same way.

pub fn fromHandle(h: *chilkat.c.CkDns.HCkDns) Dns

Wraps a handle obtained from the C API (chilkat.c.CkDns), taking ownership of it. The struct's handle field goes the other way, for anything the Zig API does not cover.

Errors and memory

Methods that can fail return an error union: a method whose only outcome is success or failure returns Error!void; a method producing a string returns (Error || Allocator.Error)![:0]u8; a method producing an object returns Error!T. chilkat.Error is error{ChilkatFailed}; the reason for a failure is in getLastErrorText, and the object remains usable. Properties never fail, and methods that answer a question (hasMember, isUnlocked, ...) return a plain bool.

String arguments are [:0]const u8 (UTF-8; string literals can be passed as is). String results are copies allocated with the allocator argument and owned by the caller, so they stay valid across later calls on the same object.

const text = dns.someMethod(allocator, ...) catch |err| {
    const why = try dns.getLastErrorText(allocator);
    defer allocator.free(why);
    std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{why});
    return err;
};
defer allocator.free(text);

Properties

DebugLogFilePath
// read/write
pub fn getDebugLogFilePath(self: Dns, allocator: Allocator) Allocator.Error![:0]u8
pub fn setDebugLogFilePath(self: Dns, value: [:0]const u8) void

If set to a file path, this property logs the LastErrorText of each Chilkat method or property call to the specified file. This logging helps identify the context and history of Chilkat calls leading up to any crash or hang, aiding in debugging.

Enabling the VerboseLogging property provides more detailed information. This property is mainly used for debugging rare instances where a Chilkat method call causes a hang or crash, which should generally not happen.

Possible causes of hangs include:

  • A timeout property set to 0, indicating an infinite timeout.
  • A hang occurring within an event callback in the application code.
  • An internal bug in the Chilkat code causing the hang.

More Information and Examples
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HeartbeatMs
// read/write
pub fn getHeartbeatMs(self: Dns) i32
pub fn setHeartbeatMs(self: Dns, value: i32) void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

The interval in milliseconds between each AbortCheck event callback, which enables an application to abort certain method calls before they complete. By default, HeartbeatMs is set to 0, meaning no AbortCheck event callbacks will trigger.

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LastErrorHtml
// read-only
pub fn getLastErrorHtml(self: Dns, allocator: Allocator) Allocator.Error![:0]u8

Provides HTML-formatted information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastErrorText
// read-only
pub fn getLastErrorText(self: Dns, allocator: Allocator) Allocator.Error![:0]u8

Provides plain text information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastErrorXml
// read-only
pub fn getLastErrorXml(self: Dns, allocator: Allocator) Allocator.Error![:0]u8

Provides XML-formatted information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastMethodSuccess
// read/write
pub fn getLastMethodSuccess(self: Dns) bool
pub fn setLastMethodSuccess(self: Dns, value: bool) void

Indicates the success or failure of the most recent method call: true means success, false means failure. This property remains unchanged by property setters or getters. This method is present to address challenges in checking for null or Nothing returns in certain programming languages. Note: This property does not apply to methods that return integer values or to boolean-returning methods where the boolean does not indicate success or failure.

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MaxWaitMs
// read/write
pub fn getMaxWaitMs(self: Dns) i32
pub fn setMaxWaitMs(self: Dns, value: i32) void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

The maxiumum number of milliseconds to wait for the answer to a DNS query. A value of 0 is to wait indefinitely (no timeout). It's not a good idea to specify 0 (infinite timeout) or a value less than 1000 (1 second). The default value is 10000 milliseconds.

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NumNameservers
// read-only
pub fn getNumNameservers(self: Dns) i32
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

The number of nameservers currently being used by Chilkat for DNS queries in all objects/classes, such as for HTTP, Email, FTP, SSH, etc.

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TlsPref
// read/write
pub fn getTlsPref(self: Dns) i32
pub fn setTlsPref(self: Dns, value: i32) void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

Specifies the TLS preference. Possible values are:

  • 0 = No TLS
  • 1 = Prefer TLS if possible.
  • 2 = Require TLS

The default value is 0. If TLS is preferred then DNS nameservers with TLS capability will be tried first. If none succeed, then UDP/TCP will be tried. If TLS is required, then only TLS capable nameservers will be tried and all DNS queries will use TLS.

Note: To use TLS, your application needs to first specify nameservers by calling AddNameserver once per nameserver with the supportsTls argument set to true.

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UncommonOptions
// read/write
pub fn getUncommonOptions(self: Dns, allocator: Allocator) Allocator.Error![:0]u8
pub fn setUncommonOptions(self: Dns, value: [:0]const u8) void
Introduced in version 11.4.0

This is a catch-all property to be used for uncommon needs. This property defaults to the empty string and should typically remain empty.

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VerboseLogging
// read/write
pub fn getVerboseLogging(self: Dns) bool
pub fn setVerboseLogging(self: Dns, value: bool) void

If set to true, then the contents of LastErrorText (or LastErrorXml, or LastErrorHtml) may contain more verbose information. The default value is false. Verbose logging should only be used for debugging. The potentially large quantity of logged information may adversely affect peformance.

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Version
// read-only
pub fn getVersion(self: Dns, allocator: Allocator) Allocator.Error![:0]u8

Version of the component/library, such as "10.1.0"

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Methods

AddDefaultNameservers
pub fn addDefaultNameservers(self: Dns) void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

Adds the default (auto-assigned) nameservers to the collection of nameservers used by Chilkat for DNS queries and domain to IP address lookups.

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AddNameserver
pub fn addNameserver(self: Dns, ip_addr: [:0]const u8, supports_tls: bool) void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

Adds a new nameserver to the collection of nameservers used by Chilkat for DNS queries and domain to IP address lookups. The ip_addr specifies the IPv4 address of the nameserver. The supports_tls indicates if the namserver supports DoT (DNS over TLS. DoT uses port 853 for encrypted DNS communication.) If the TlsPreference property is set to 1 or 2, then Chilkat will use TLS nameservers.

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GetNameserver
pub fn getNameserver(self: Dns, allocator: Allocator, index: i32) (Error || Allocator.Error)![:0]u8
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

Returns the IP address of the Nth nameserver currently used by Chilkat for DNS queries and domain to IP address lookups. The index specifies the index of the nameserver. The 1st nameserver is at index 0.

Returns error.ChilkatFailed on failure; getLastErrorText explains why. The string is allocated with allocator and owned by the caller (defer allocator.free(s)).

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Query
pub fn query(self: Dns, record_type: [:0]const u8, domain: [:0]const u8, answer: chilkat.JsonObject) Error!void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

Performs an DNS query for domain and returns the answer in answer. The type of DNS query is specified in record_type and can be A, AAAA, ALIAS, CAA, MX, NS, SOA, TXT. Additional record types can be added as needed.

Returns error.ChilkatFailed on failure; getLastErrorText explains why.

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RemoveAllNameservers
pub fn removeAllNameservers(self: Dns) void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

Removes all nameservers from the collection of nameservers used by Chilkat. An application can call this method to reset to 0 nameservers before adding new nameservers. If a DNS domain to IP address resolution is needed by Chilkat, then the auto-assigned nameserver IP addresses will be automaticaly restored.

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RemoveNameserver
pub fn removeNameserver(self: Dns, ip_addr: [:0]const u8) void
Introduced in version 9.5.0.96

Removes a nameserver from the collection of nameservers used by Chilkat. The ip_addr is the IPv4 address of the nameserver to be removed.

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Events

All Chilkat methods are synchronous: the call returns when the work is done. During a call, Dns raises three events so your program can show progress and offer a way out. Declare any subset of abortCheck, percentDone and progressInfo in a struct of your own and install a pointer to it with setEventHandler:

const Progress = struct {
    pub fn percentDone(_: *Progress, pct: i32) bool {
        std.debug.print("{d}%\n", .{pct});
        return false; // return true to abort the method in progress
    }
    pub fn progressInfo(_: *Progress, name: [:0]const u8, value: [:0]const u8) void {
        std.debug.print("{s}: {s}\n", .{ name, value });
    }
};

var progress = Progress{};
dns.setEventHandler(&progress); // progress must outlive the installation
defer dns.clearEventHandler();
dns.setHeartbeatMs(250); // abortCheck 4 times per second during Chilkat calls
pub fn setEventHandler(self: Dns, handler: anytype) void

Installs handler, a pointer to any struct, as the receiver of this object's events, replacing any handler installed earlier. The dispatch is resolved at compile time: only the methods the struct declares are called, and a struct declaring none of the three is a compile error. The struct must stay alive, at the same address, until clearEventHandler or deinit.

pub fn clearEventHandler(self: Dns) void

Removes the handler; events are no longer delivered.

AbortCheck fires at regular intervals controlled by the HeartbeatMs property (0, the default, disables it); PercentDone fires when an operation's completion percentage is known; ProgressInfo delivers named progress values. Returning true from abortCheck or percentDone aborts the running method, which then returns error.ChilkatFailed.

Events fire on the thread that called the method, before that method returns. To abort a long operation from another thread, have abortCheck read a std.atomic.Value(bool), or set the object's AbortCurrent property.

AbortCheck
// handler struct method (optional); install with setEventHandler
pub fn abortCheck(self: *T) bool

Enables a method call to be aborted by triggering the AbortCheck event at intervals defined by the HeartbeatMs property. If HeartbeatMs is set to its default value of 0, no events will occur. For instance, set HeartbeatMs to 200 to trigger 5 AbortCheck events per second.

More Information and Examples

Example

const Abort = struct {
    stop: std.atomic.Value(bool) = .init(false),
    pub fn abortCheck(self: *Abort) bool {
        return self.stop.load(.acquire); // another thread may call abort.stop.store(true, .release)
    }
};

var abort = Abort{};
dns.setHeartbeatMs(250); // call abortCheck 4 times per second
dns.setEventHandler(&abort);
defer dns.clearEventHandler();
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PercentDone
// handler struct method (optional); install with setEventHandler
pub fn percentDone(self: *T, pct: i32) bool

This provides the percentage completion for any method involving network communications or time-consuming processing, assuming the progress can be measured as a percentage. This event is triggered only when it's possible and logical to express the operation's progress as a percentage. The pctDone argument will range from 1 to 100. For methods that finish quickly, the number of PercentDone callbacks may vary, but the final callback will have pctDone equal to 100. For longer operations, callbacks will not exceed one per percentage point (e.g., 1, 2, 3, ..., 98, 99, 100).

The PercentDone callback also acts as an AbortCheck event. For fast methods where PercentDone fires, an AbortCheck event may not trigger since the PercentDone callback already provides an opportunity to abort. For longer operations, where time between PercentDone callbacks is extended, AbortCheck callbacks enable more responsive operation termination.

To abort the operation, set the abort output argument to true. This will cause the method to terminate and return a failure status or corresponding failure value.

More Information and Examples

Example

const Progress = struct {
    pub fn percentDone(_: *Progress, pct: i32) bool {
        // pct ranges from 1 to 100.
        std.debug.print("Percent done: {d}\n", .{pct});
        return false; // return true to abort the method in progress
    }
};

var progress = Progress{};
dns.setEventHandler(&progress);
defer dns.clearEventHandler();
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ProgressInfo
// handler struct method (optional); install with setEventHandler
pub fn progressInfo(self: *T, name: [:0]const u8, value: [:0]const u8) void

This event callback provides tag name/value pairs that detail what occurs during a method call. To discover existing tag names, create code to handle the event, emit the pairs, and review them. Most tag names are self-explanatory.

Note: Some Chilkat methods don't fire any ProgressInfo events.

More Information and Examples

Example

const Info = struct {
    pub fn progressInfo(_: *Info, name: [:0]const u8, value: [:0]const u8) void {
        std.debug.print("{s}: {s}\n", .{ name, value });
    }
};

var info = Info{};
dns.setEventHandler(&info);
defer dns.clearEventHandler();
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