In this article, we are discussing about DNS definition and how it works. We are also pointing out on DNS(Domain Name System) Records and it’s various types.
What is DNS:
The DNS stands for Domain Name System (DNS) is a naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network.
In other words, DNS is the Largest Digital database in the world, containing information about every web site on the internet. Every web site online has an IP address that is its actual internet location, and this number is used to locate the web site within the database.
Domain Name System (DNS) is the Internet’s system for converting alphabetic names into numeric IP addresses.
For example, when a Web address (URL) is typed into a browser, DNS servers return the IP address of the Web server associated with that name.
How does Domain Name System (DNS) works:
The Domain Name System is used to find the solution of human-readable host names www.domain.com into machine-readable IP addresses like 195.123.63.06.
In other words, DNS is like a phone book for the Internet as same as in our MObile phone. If you know a person’s name but don’t know their telephone number, you can simply look it up in a phone book.
Similarly, If you do not know about particular IP address then DNS provides that same service to the Internet.
When you visit http:/domain.com in your browser, your computer uses DNS to extract or get the website’s IP address of 195.123.63.06.
Please note without DNS, you can also visit website (or any website) by visiting its IP address directly, such as http://195.123.63.06.
Now, we are talking about the Domain Name System (DNS) records,and types of DNS Records as showing below:
DNS Records:
These are data that tells the web server how to respond to your input is known as the “DNS records”. DNS records are basically mapping / Interchanging files that responds the DNS server which IP address each domain is associated with, and how to handle requests sent to each domain. When someone visits your web site, a request is being sent to the DNS server and then forwarded to the web server provided by a web hosting provider, which contain the data contained on the site.
The following are the types of DNS records:
1) A records: “A” record,stands for “address” (IPv4) is the most basic type of records used in DNS records, indicating the actual IP address of the domain.
2) AAAA records: also called “quad-A record” specifies IPv6 address for associate host. AAAA records works the same way as the A record only the difference is type of IP address.
3) CNAME records: The CNAME stands for “canonical name” is a type of resource record in the Domain Name System (DNS) used to specify that a domain name is an alias for another domain.
4) MX records: The “MX” record stands for “mail exchange” and is basically a list of mail exchange servers that are to be used for the particular domain.
5) NS records: The “NS” record stands for “name server” and indicates which Name Server is Authorized for the particular domain.
6) SOA records: An “SOA” record stands for “State of Authority” it stores important information like when the domain was last updated etc.
7) SRV records: An “SRV” record stands for “service” which is used to define a TCP service on which the domain operates.
8) TXT records: “TXT” record lets you insert any “Text” into the DNS record.
You can also read this:
DNS Propagation and why it takes time to propagate
How to Manage DNS records in cPanel
How to Edit or Delete a DNS record