The records for your domain.
THE TYPICAL ZONE
An A record for the domain, pointing at your server An A or CNAME record for www MX records directing mail TXT records for SPF, DKIM and DMARC Records for cPanel service hostnames Any subdomains NS records naming the authoritative nameservers An SOA record with zone administrative details
WHAT THE SOA IS
The start of authority record. Administrative information about the zone: the primary nameserver, a contact address, and timing values.
You rarely touch it.
WHAT MATTERS TO YOU
A records, MX records and TXT records. Those three account for nearly everything you will ever change.
WHERE TO SEE IT
cPanel > Zone Editor shows the full zone if your nameservers are ours.
At an external provider, their DNS panel.
EXPORTING IT
Worth doing. A zone export is a record of every entry, and no hosting backup includes DNS held elsewhere.
Store it with your documentation.
WHAT BREAKS A ZONE
A missing MX record stops mail. A missing A record stops the website. Both are silent until someone notices.
