What is DNS, and why does it matter for my website?
The short answer
DNS is the internet’s address book. Your domain’s DNS settings tell browsers where your website is, and tell other mail servers where to deliver your email. Whoever controls your DNS can redirect your website or your email, so protect that login like a bank login.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Nameservers | Decide which company’s DNS is used. Only that company’s settings count. |
| A and CNAME records | Point your domain, and www, at your website. |
| MX records | Send your email to your email provider. |
| TXT records | Prove you own the domain and stop others sending email as you (SPF, DKIM and DMARC). |
Changes usually take effect within minutes to a few hours, and occasionally up to two days.
If your nameservers point to one company, DNS settings or paid DNS add-ons at another company aren’t used. That’s why a registrar’s premium DNS can be wasted money.
Words used here
- DNS (the traffic controller)
- The internet’s address book: it tells a browser which computer to visit when someone types your domain.
- Nameservers
- A setting on your domain that says which company runs its DNS. For example, ns1.hover.com means Hover is in charge of your traffic settings.
- SPF & DKIM records
- Settings in your DNS that prove emails really come from you, so they don’t land in spam.
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