DNS is like a phonebook for the internet. Just as a phonebook contains the phone numbers and addresses of people and businesses, DNS contains the IP addresses of websites. When you type a website’s name into your web browser, the DNS system looks up the IP address associated with that name and directs your browser to the correct server.
The DNS system is made up of many servers, each with its own job in finding the right IP address. There are also different types of information stored in the DNS system, like the IP address itself, or information about email servers.
Name servers are like librarians who keep track of the phonebook. They store all of the DNS information and provide it to anyone who needs it. Some name servers are responsible for specific phonebook entries, while others have copies of the entire phonebook.
In short, DNS is the system that helps your computer find the right website when you type its name into your browser. It’s like a phonebook for the internet, and name servers are the librarians who keep it organised.
Types of DNS Records
There are a number of different types of records held with a DNS zone. Below we briefly touch on each
- A record: This record maps a domain name to an IPv4 address. It’s like a phone number for a website, and it’s the most basic type of DNS record.
- AAAA record: This record maps a domain name to an IPv6 address. IPv6 addresses are longer than IPv4 addresses and provide more possible combinations, which is important as we run out of IPv4 addresses.
- CNAME record: This record creates an alias or subdomain that points to another domain name. It’s like having a nickname that people use to find you in the phonebook. For example, if you have a CNAME record that maps www.example.com to example.com, then when someone types in www.example.com, they’ll be directed to the same server as if they had typed in example.com.
- TXT record: This record contains text information about a domain name. It’s often used for things like verification purposes, such as proving ownership of a domain. It can also contain other useful information, such as SPF records for email authentication.
- MX record: This record maps a domain name to a mail server responsible for handling email sent to that domain. It’s like telling the phonebook which number to call if someone wants to send you an email.
These are just a few examples of the types of DNS records that exist. There are many more, each with their own specific purpose. However, these five are the most commonly used and will give you a good idea of how DNS records work.
