DNS Record Types
Source: Dev.to
Introduction
When you type google.com into your browser, you aren’t connecting to a name—you’re connecting to a server somewhere in the world. Computers understand numbers (IP addresses), not human‑readable names. The system that translates a domain name into an IP address is the Domain Name System (DNS).
DNS works like a phonebook for the internet. Just as you would look up a person’s phone number in a physical directory, DNS looks up the numeric address that corresponds to a human‑friendly name such as example.com.
How DNS Works
- You type a website name into your browser.
- DNS resolves the name to its corresponding IP address.
- The browser connects to that IP address.
- The website loads.
Domain Components
A domain name can represent a variety of services, including:
- A website
- Email service
- Subdomains
- Verification data
DNS Records
DNS records are instructions that tell the internet where resources for a domain are located. Each type of record solves a specific problem.
NS (Name Server) Record
- Purpose: Indicates which DNS servers are authoritative for the domain.
- Function: Tells DNS resolvers which servers to query when looking up any DNS records for that domain.
Example: If you purchase a domain from GoDaddy and host your website on Vercel, the NS record will point to Vercel’s DNS servers, indicating that Vercel manages the domain’s DNS.