Domains > DNS

8 minute read

What is DNS Propagation and Why Does It Matter?

Have you ever wondered why it takes time for a newly launched website to be accessible to everyone? It may be loading in one country but not in another? Or why DNS changes seem to take so long to show results? This delay is due to something called DNS propagation, a process that runs behind the scenes to keep the internet working as smoothly as it does. 

In this article, you’ll learn what DNS propagation is, why it happens, how long it can take, what factors influence it, and how you can troubleshoot common issues.



What is DNS propagation?

Before we dive into the specifics of propagation, let’s take a step back to understand how DNS works. 

The internet is a vast, global network of computers. Each computer has a unique IP address, a series of numbers that’s used to identify it. However, as you can imagine, it’s not practical to expect humans to remember strings of numbers (e.g. 192.168.2.3). That’s where DNS comes in.

DNS, or Domain Name System, is, for all intents and purposes, the internet’s address book. When you type a website name like www.domainking.ng into your browser, a DNS server translates it into its corresponding, machine-readable IP address. This ensures that we can access all our favorite websites without needing to memorize complex numbers.

Now, what about DNS propagation? Think of it as spreading the news about changes to the internet’s address book (aka DNS). When you update your DNS settings—e.g., you may point your domain to a new IP address, or add a new nameserver — the change needs to reach DNS servers worldwide.

Since the update has to travel across a network of servers across the world, the process takes time; anywhere from a few minutes to several days. That’s what we call DNS propagation: the time it takes for DNS updates to be reflected everywhere.


How does DNS propagation happen?

DNS caching is the process of storing a temporary copy of DNS information to make things load faster. Caching can happen at different levels; your internet service provider (ISP), your browser, or even your operating system may save DNS data locally. This allows quicker access to websites, as the browser doesn’t have to repeatedly query the main DNS servers. 

But there’s a catch – caching can delay updates. Here’s how:

  1.  When you access a website, your local DNS server stores the IP address associated with the domain name in its local cache.
  2. Now suppose that the website’s IP address changes (e.g., due to server migration or configuration updates via cPanel), and the cached information becomes outdated.
  3. Until the cached record expires, subsequent visits to the website may still use the old, cached IP address, leading to errors, or an incorrect website. This delay is a big reason why DNS propagation takes time.

What factors affect DNS propagation?

Here are some factors that can influence the speed of DNS propagation:

  • Time-to-Live (TTL): Each DNS record has a TTL value, which tells DNS servers how long to keep cached records before fetching updated information. A lower TTL means faster propagation, as changes are reflected more quickly. However, it can also increase the load on DNS servers.
  • DNS hierarchy: The DNS system is made up of multiple layers—root servers, TLD (Top-Level Domain) servers, and authoritative servers. Changes must trickle down through this hierarchy.
  • ISP caching policies: Different ISPs have their own rules about how often they clear their caches, which leads to variations in propagation time.
  • Network latency: Physical distance and internet traffic can slow down the time it takes for updates to reach certain servers.
  • Registrar and hosting configuration: Errors or delays in settings at your domain registrar or hosting provider can also impact propagation.

How long does propagation take?

DNS propagation times can vary, but on average, it takes between 24 to 48 hours. In some cases, it may take as little as a few minutes or as long as 72 hours, depending on the factors discussed above. 

The speed of DNS propagation also differs from region to region. This is due to factors like the geographic location of DNS servers, the robustness of internet infrastructure, and the frequency with which DNS servers refresh cached data. 


How to check if DNS has propagated?

If you have recently updated your DNS settings, you might wonder how to check if the changes have taken effect around the world. Luckily, there are several tools that make this easy. Here are some of them:

DNS Checker

Visit the DNS Checker website and follow these steps:

  1. Enter your domain name, select the type of DNS record (e.g. A or CNAME) from the dropdown, and hit Search.
DNS Checker dashboard with doainking.ng typed in the search bar
  1. Go through the results to see the propagation statuses from around the world.
List of Global DNS servers

WhatsMyDNS

WhatsMyDNS is another website to check DNS propagation status. Follow these steps:

  1. Visit the website: https://www.whatsmydns.net/
  2. Enter your domain name, select the type of DNS record from the dropdown, and hit Search.
WhatsMyDNS dashboard with doainking.ng typed in the search bar

      3. Go through the results to see the propagation statuses from around the world.

WhatsMyDNS - propagation status results for domainking.ng

Command line tools

If you are comfortable with command-line interfaces, you can also use tools like nslookup and dig to check DNS-related information.

nslookup

  1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
  2. Type nslookup yourdomain.com and hit Enter.
  3. The output will show the IP address or DNS information for your domain. For example, here’s the response for nslookup domainking.ng:

Server:  UnKnown

Address:  192.168.100.1

 

Non-authoritative answer:

Name:    domainking.ng

Address:  102.130.117.240

The first line indicates that a local DNS server (192.168.100.1) was consulted to retrieve the DNS record for domainking.ng. The second line indicates that for the domain name

domainking.ng, the local DNS server currently has a record that points it to the IP address 102.130.117.240. However, because it’s a non-authoritative answer, there’s a chance this information could be outdated.

Dig

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Type dig yourdomain.com and hit Enter.
  3. Look for the “ANSWER SECTION” to see the current DNS records. For example, here’s the output for dig domainking.ng:

 

; <<>> DiG 9.9.4-RedHat-9.9.4-61.el7_5.1 <<>> domainking.ng

;; global options: +cmd

;; Got answer:

;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 48203

;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

 

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:

; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; MBZ: 0005 , udp: 1232

;; QUESTION SECTION:

;domainking.ng. IN A

 

;; ANSWER SECTION:

domainking.ng. 5 IN A 102.130.117.240

 

;; Query time: 2 msec

;; SERVER: 192.168.218.2#53(192.168.218.2)

;; WHEN: Tue Dec 03 17:43:25 PKT 2024

;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 58

As you can see, the ANSWER SECTION part of the output specifies the DNS record (type: A), TTL (5), and IP address (102.130.117.240).


Common DNS propagation issues and fixes

Next, we will discuss and dissect some common DNS propagation issues:

DNS not propagating

Cause:

  • Incorrect DNS settings at the domain registrar or hosting provider.
  • Errors in the DNS zone file, such as typos in the IP address or record types.

Fix:

  • Double-check your DNS records to rule out any errors or misconfigurations.
  • Contact your registrar or hosting provider to confirm that the changes have been published.
  • Use DNS checker tools to verify if the updates are reflected globally.

DNS propagation taking too long

Cause:

  • High TTL (Time-to-Live) settings cause old records to persist in caches.
  • ISP caching policies delay updates.

Fix:

  • Lower the TTL value before making DNS changes for quicker updates in the future.
  • Wait for the TTL to expire and allow time for updates to spread across all DNS servers.

Website not accessible after DNS changes

Cause:

  • DNS changes are not fully propagated.
  • Local DNS cache or browser cache is still holding old records.
  • Misconfigured DNS records are pointing to the wrong server.

Fix:

  • Clear your browser and DNS cache to force an update.
  • Verify the DNS records using tools like nslookup or dig.
  • Check with your hosting provider to confirm that the server is set up to handle requests for your domain.

Emails not delivering after DNS changes

Cause:

  • Missing or incorrect MX (Mail Exchange) records in the DNS settings.

Fix:

  • Ensure that the MX records are configured correctly and point to the right mail server.
  • Use an online tool like DNS checker to confirm that MX records have propagated.
  • Check SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records if emails are marked as spam.

Old website or server still loading

Cause:

  • Cached DNS records are pointing to the old server.
  • ISP or browser cache is not yet updated.

Fix:

  • Flush your DNS cache and refresh your browser.
  • Ask users in different locations to check if the new server is loading.

SSL certificate issues after DNS changes

Cause:

  • SSL certificates are not updated for the new server or domain.
  • DNS records are not properly directing traffic to the SSL-enabled server.

Fix:

  • Reissue or update the SSL certificate for the new server or domain.
  • Confirm that the DNS settings point to the correct IP address for the SSL-enabled server.

FAQs about DNS propagation

Here are answers to some FAQs about DNS propagation:

How to check if DNS has propagated?

You can check DNS propagation using tools like DNS Checker or WhatsMyDNS. These websites allow you to see the current DNS records across servers worldwide.

What is DNS propagation lookup?

DNS propagation lookup is the process used to query DNS servers to determine the current IP address associated with a domain name. It can be done using tools like dig, nslookup, or online DNS lookup services.

How to speed up DNS propagation?

While you can’t control the global propagation speed, here are some steps to minimize delays:

  • Lower the TTL value of your DNS records before making changes. This makes the cached records expire faster.
  • Clear your local DNS cache and browser cache to avoid seeing outdated information.
  • Use reliable DNS providers that are known to update their records promptly.

Why is DNS propagation taking so long?

There are several factors that can cause propagation delays:

  • High TTL settings result in longer caching times.
  • Some DNS servers, including those of ISPs, refresh their caches less frequently.
  • Network latency or traffic can slow down updates between servers.
  • Misconfigurations or errors in DNS settings can also contribute to the delay.

How long does DNS propagation take globally?

DNS propagation typically takes between 24 to 48 hours. However, in some cases, it may take as little as a few minutes or as long as 72 hours, depending on TTL settings, caching policies, geographic locations of DNS servers, and other factors.

What if my website still isn’t accessible after propagation?

If your website isn’t accessible after propagation:

  • Double-check your DNS settings to verify that they’re correct.
  • Clear your local DNS and browser cache.
  • Make sure that your server is properly configured to handle the domain.
  • Contact your hosting provider or registrar for further assistance.

Conclusion

DNS propagation is a simple yet crucial process that makes the internet tick. As a website owner, understanding the basics of DNS propagation can help you avoid misconfigurations, troubleshoot issues, and ensure a smooth online experience for your visitors. 

For reliable domain registration, straightforward DNS management, and hassle-free DNS propagation, visit DomainKing.ng today.