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DNS NS record

(also nameserver record)

What is a DNS record?

A DNS record is a data entry stored in the Domain Name System (DNS) that provides essential information about a domain, such as its corresponding IP address. These records allow browsers to connect domain names (like example.com) to the servers hosting the website. Common DNS records include A records (which map domain names to IP addresses), MX records (for directing email), and PTR records (for reverse DNS lookups). DNS records are managed by nameservers, which store and distribute this information to ensure proper connectivity and communication across the internet.

See also: DNS query, DNS record, DNS A record, DNS AAAA record, DNS CNAME record, DNS MX record, DNS PTR record, DNS SOA record, DNS SPF record, DNS SRV record, DNS TXT record, DNS server, hostname

DNS NS record functions

A DNS NS (Name Server) record plays a key role in directing internet traffic by specifying which nameservers are authoritative for a particular domain. These records ensure that DNS queries are correctly routed to the servers that hold the domain's DNS records. Here’s how NS records function:

  • Identify authoritative nameservers: NS records tell the DNS system which servers are responsible for handling queries about a domain.
  • Ensure redundancy: Domains usually have multiple NS records, pointing to primary and secondary nameservers for reliability.
  • Direct DNS queries: When a query is made for a domain, the NS record ensures that the query reaches the correct server that holds the DNS records.
  • Support domain delegation: NS records help delegate subdomains to different nameservers if needed.

An example of a DNS NS record

An example of a DNS NS record is: for the domain example.com, the NS record specifies that the authoritative nameserver is ns1.example.com.

NS record vs. A record

An NS (Name Server) record and an A (Address) record serve different purposes in the Domain Name System (DNS).

  • NS record: An NS record specifies the authoritative nameservers for a domain, indicating which servers are responsible for managing the DNS records. It ensures that DNS queries for the domain are directed to the correct nameservers.
  • A record: An A record maps a domain name to its corresponding IPv4 address, allowing browsers to locate the server hosting the website. This record is essential for translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses.