DNS
DNS is the system that turns your domain name into the address of the servers that run your website and email. It works like the internet's address book. One wrong DNS record can take your site and your email down together.
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. Computers find each other by numbers called IP addresses. People remember names such as yourcompany.com. DNS turns the name into the right number, much like a phone book: you pick the name and it finds the number.
Here is an everyday case. You move your site to a new server. If the domain's DNS record still points at the old server, visitors see the old site or nothing at all. Once the record is updated with the new address, traffic flows to the new place. In the same way, a wrong MX record means incoming email goes missing.
How does it work?
DNS has several record types. An A record says which server hosts the site. An MX record says where email should be delivered. TXT records hold checks such as SPF, which make it harder for others to send fake email in your name. When a record changes, the new value can take from a few minutes to a few hours to spread.
DNS settings live in the control panel of your domain name, and you should be able to log into it. We explain why in who should own your domain. We keep an eye on DNS records and renewals as part of maintenance and support.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a DNS change take?
Usually from a few minutes to a few hours. The TTL value on a record decides how long old answers are kept. Lowering it before a move speeds things up.
Will moving my website affect my email?
Not if only the website record changes. It can if MX records are touched. Taking a copy of all current records before a move is a good habit.
Who should manage my DNS?
The records should sit in your company's account. Your technical team can make changes, but you should own the account.
Sources
- 01 DNS · MDN Web Docs