DNS

What is DNS (Domain Name Servers) ?

DNS is how the internet knows where your website lives, like having an address for a house.

Before DNS, websites were only accessible with IP Addresses. DNS allows me to use simple names, like nimathegreatest.com, which resolves to the IP Address that stores the website’s files.

What are DNS Records / Zones?

Domains have different types of information; for example, the server that handles emails for nimathegreatest.com might be different from the server that stores its files.

There are different “Types” of DNS Records which tell the internet where to look. To list some common ones:

A Records - Alias Records are the most basic and necessary type of record. It tells the web where your website is stored. Without an A record, nimathegreatest.com would not resolve to the IP address that stores this website.

MX Records - Used for Mail Exchange. It tells the internet how your domain handles mail that uses its name.

TXT Records - Text Records are generally used for many things. You can put SPF and DKIM data as an email signature for security, and some services will ask you to add a TXT record to prove ownership of the domain. Since only the registered and licensed owner of a domain name ultimately has control over its DNS.

How do I edit my DNS?

Editing or adding DNS records is a simple process. Though a simple mistake can cause a website to go down for hours, or even a day.

Adding new records is mostly harmless, especially TXT records used for verification. Every domain registrar will have a place to manage/edit DNS records for a domain, where you can simply add new ones. It will always ask for a record Type, and the following fields will be determined by that. Typically, before you decide to edit DNS records, you should already have a record that you need to add - so just copy and paste that information.