Knowledgebase

DNS Terminology Explained Print

  • dnsnameservers, dns, domain, nameservers, caching, spf, dkim, domainrenewal, subdomain, nigeria
  • 0

The words you will encounter.

  • REGISTRAR: where the domain is registered
  • REGISTRY: the organisation running an extension, such as .com or .ng
  • NAMESERVER: a server answering questions about a domain
  • ZONE: the set of records for a domain
  • AUTHORITATIVE: the servers holding the real records
  • RECURSIVE or RESOLVER: a server that looks answers up and caches them
  • PROPAGATION: old cached answers expiring, not a distribution process
  • TTL: how long an answer may be cached
  • RECORD: a single entry, such as an A or MX record
  • A RECORD: a name pointing at an IPv4 address
  • AAAA RECORD: a name pointing at an IPv6 address
  • CNAME: a name pointing at another name
  • MX: where mail for the domain should go
  • TXT: arbitrary text, used for SPF, DKIM and verification
  • NS: which nameservers are authoritative
  • SOA: administrative details about the zone
  • GLUE RECORD: the address of a nameserver on the domain it serves
  • DELEGATION: handing a subdomain to different nameservers
  • DNSSEC: cryptographic signing of DNS responses
  • PTR: reverse lookup, address to name

WHICH MATTER MOST

A, MX and TXT. Those three cover almost everything you will change.


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