Key facts
- DNS stands for Domain Name System.
- Nameservers say which provider holds a domain's DNS records.
- A records point a name to an IPv4 address; AAAA records point to an IPv6 address.
- MX records say which servers receive email for the domain.
- TXT records hold text such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC email settings and verification codes.
- TTL (time to live) sets how long other servers cache a record, in seconds.
DNS in one paragraph
Computers find each other using numbers called IP addresses. People prefer names. DNS is the system that matches the name to the number. When someone types your domain into a browser, their device asks DNS "where is this?" and gets back an IP address. The browser then connects to that server. It all happens in a fraction of a second, every time anyone visits your site or sends you an email.
A useful comparison is the contacts list on your phone. You tap a name, and the phone looks up the number for you. DNS does the same job for the whole internet, with millions of servers sharing the work and remembering recent answers to keep things fast.
The parts you will hear about
- Domain name: the name you register, such as example.co.uk.
- Registrar: the company you register the domain through.
- Nameservers: the servers that hold your DNS records. Changing nameservers moves all your DNS to a different provider.
- DNS records: the individual entries that say where the website, email and other services are.
- TTL: how long, in seconds, other servers may remember a record before checking again.
- Propagation:
- Resolver: the server, usually run by your broadband provider or a public service, that looks up DNS answers for your device and caches them.
- Propagation: the time it takes for a change to be seen everywhere, because of that caching.
The common DNS records
| Record | What it does | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| A | Points a name to an IPv4 address | Your website's server |
| AAAA | Points a name to an IPv6 address | Your website's server over IPv6 |
| CNAME | Makes one name an alias of another | www pointing to the main domain |
| MX | Says where email for the domain is delivered | Microsoft 365 or your email host |
| TXT | Holds text settings | SPF, DKIM, DMARC, site verification |
| SRV | Points a service to a server and port | Some phone and chat systems |
| CAA | Says which authorities may issue SSL certificates | Allowing Let's Encrypt |
Most small business domains only need a handful of these: A or CNAME records for the website, MX for email, and a few TXT records for email security and verification.
Why DNS matters to a small business
Get DNS wrong and the website goes offline or email stops arriving, even though nothing is wrong with the server. Common problems include:
- Email records lost when nameservers are changed during a website move.
- Two SPF records, causing emails to go to spam. See Why are my business emails going to spam?
- DNS held in a former supplier's account, so nobody can change it.
- The domain expiring, which takes DNS, the website and email offline together.
Ideally your DNS sits with a reliable provider, in an account your business controls, managed by someone who understands it. Before any change, take a copy of every record. It takes five minutes and can save hours if something goes wrong. Many sites use Cloudflare, which adds caching and protection too. Read What is Cloudflare DNS and do I need it? and Cloudflare vs registrar DNS.
How dijitul helps
On dijitul Complete Hosting, we set up and manage your DNS in Cloudflare: website records, email records including SPF, DKIM and DMARC, and any verification records you need. If you move to us, we copy every existing record across before switching, so email keeps flowing. It costs £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT), with a domain registration or renewal, daily backups and free SSL included. See Cloudflare DNS management or order online.
Frequently asked questions
What does DNS stand for?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is the system that translates human-friendly domain names, such as example.co.uk, into the numeric IP addresses computers use to find each other. Without DNS, you would need to type a string of numbers to visit a website or send an email.
What is the difference between a domain and DNS?
A domain is the name you register and own, such as example.co.uk. DNS is the set of records attached to that name that tell the internet where your website, email and other services live. You can keep the same domain while changing its DNS to point at a new host.
How long do DNS changes take?
It depends on the TTL, the time other servers are allowed to cache a record. Many records use a TTL between five minutes and a few hours, so changes usually show within that time. Nameserver changes can take up to 24 to 48 hours to be seen everywhere, although they are often quicker.
What are nameservers?
Nameservers are the servers that hold a domain's DNS records and answer questions about it. You set them at your domain registrar. Pointing a domain at a provider's nameservers, such as Cloudflare's, hands that provider control of every DNS record for the domain, including website and email records.
Who should manage my DNS?
Someone reliable, in an account your business owns. Many small businesses leave DNS with a former web designer and lose access when they leave. A good arrangement is DNS hosted with a dependable provider such as Cloudflare, with your hosting company managing changes for you and your business holding the domain.
Does dijitul manage DNS?
Yes. dijitul Complete Hosting includes Cloudflare DNS set up and managed for you, covering website, email and verification records. It costs £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT) and includes one domain registration or renewal a year, daily backups, free SSL and UK-based support.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.