DNS records are the public information that allows computers to connect to websites and email servers. When you register a domain name, you must provide contact information for yourself and your website. This contact information is public, and is typically stored in what are called DNS records.
DNS records are stored in a DNS server, which is a computer that is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses. When you type a domain name into your web browser, the browser contacts the DNS server associated with that domain and requests the IP address for the website. The DNS server then looks up the DNS record for that domain, and returns the IP address to the browser.
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There are four types of DNS records that are commonly used: A records, CNAME records, MX records, and NS records.
A Records: A Records are the most basic type of DNS record and are used to point a domain or subdomain to an IP address. For example, the A Record for www.example.com could be pointed to 192.0.2.1.
CNAME Records: CNAME Records are used to point a domain or subdomain to another domain name. For example, you could use a CNAME Record to point www.com to www.net.
MX Records: MX Records are used to route email messages for a domain name. For example, the MX Record for example.com might point to mail.com.
NS Records: NS Records are used to specify which DNS server is responsible (authoritative) for a particular zone (domain). For example, the NS Record for example.com might point to ns1.
DNS records are an essential part of owning a website or email address – they provide the public information that allows computers to connect to your site or account. If you’re setting up a new website or email address, you’ll need to create appropriate DNS records so that people can actually find and use your site or account!
If you are not familiar with DNS and how it works, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional help before making any changes to your DNS records. Incorrectly configured DNS records can result in serious problems, including loss of email or website functionality, and even loss of internet access.
