DNS, the Domain Name System, is the internet's directory service — it translates human-friendly domain names like ferdy.com into the numerical IP addresses computers actually use to find each other. Without it, you'd need to memorise a string of numbers instead of a name to visit any website.
How a DNS Lookup Works
- You type a domain name into your browser
- Your device asks a DNS resolver to look up that domain
- The resolver checks a series of DNS servers until it finds the matching IP address
- Your browser connects to that IP address and loads the site
This entire round trip typically happens in a fraction of a second.
Common DNS Record Types
- A record — points a domain to an IPv4 address
- CNAME record — points a domain to another domain name instead of an IP
- MX record — directs email to the right mail server
- TXT record — holds text-based data, often used to verify domain ownership
Where This Comes Up for a Site Owner
DNS settings matter most when pointing a domain at a new host, connecting a custom domain to a site builder, or setting up business email. Changes here can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate across the internet, so a little patience is often required after making an update.
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