What is an NS record?
A DNS NS record is a type of record in the domain name system that specifies which nameserver is responsible for a particular domain. In other words, it tells the world which server contains all the crucial information about the domain, such as its IP address and other related records. Whenever you try to access a website or send an email, your device needs to know where to look for the domain's details, and that's where the NS record comes in handy. It acts as a directory, pointing your device in the right direction to find the information it needs to connect you to the desired domain. Without the NS record, your device would be lost, not knowing where to go or who to ask for the domain's information.
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, hostname
What do DNS NS records do?
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.
How do NS records work?
Here’s how NS records work:
- The user enters a domain name in their browser.
- Browser sends a DNS query to find the IP address.
- Query reaches a DNS server that checks the domain's NS records.
- NS records point to the authoritative nameservers for that domain.
- The query is sent to the authoritative nameserver.
- Nameserver returns the domain's IP address (usually an A or AAAA record).
- Browser receives the IP address and connects to the website.
When to use or update NS records?
You should use or update NS records in the following situations:
- Changing hosting providers: When you move your website or domain hosting to a new provider, you will need to update the NS records to point to the new provider's nameservers.
- Using subdomains: If you want to create NS records for subdomains to delegate them to different nameservers than your main domain, you can do so.
- Improving performance and security: Using multiple NS records can help improve performance and security by distributing the DNS resolution process across different DNS services.
What is an NS record example?
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.
How to create an NS record
To create an NS record, you should:
- Log in to the DNS management portal where your domain's DNS records are managed (this may be your domain registrar or a DNS hosting provider).
- Find the section for managing DNS records, often labeled "DNS," "Zone File," or "Advanced DNS".
- Click to create a new record and select "NS" as the record type.
- Enter the required information, such as the host/name, the name server address, and a time-to-live (TTL) value.
- Save the record. It may take up to 24-48 hours for the changes to propagate globally.
