Demystifying DNS (Domain Name System): What Should You Know?

We need DNS (#domainnamesystem) records for the same reason we need house numbers and street names in real life: to help us get to the right location. Every website out there is built on physical hardware, which introduces the problem of where.

What You Should Know About DNS: Problems to Consider

Problem #1: Referencing a Specific Online Device
Problem #2: The Human Problem
Problem #3: Order and Trust

How do #DNS records work?

DNS records generally have four components:

· Type: This refers to what it’s used for. A and CNAME records are used primarily for websites. MX is used for email.

· Domain Name: This is the website address you order from your website host.

· IP Address: This is the IP address you want to associate with the domain.

· TTL (Time to Live): This is how long the DNS record stays good for (more on this next).

Here's a practical example—
1. The browser checks if it has a DNS record stored. If there’s a match, it pulls up the site.

2. If your browser doesn’t have a stored DNS record for the site, it will continue checking for the DNS record, usually the following devices in order:
-Your Browser
-Operating system
-Home/office router
-Internet service provider

3. If none of these devices have the record stored, your browser eventually will go right to the registrar for your domain and pull the record and, from that, the site.

DNS can be a complicated affair, but like most things technical, it’s predictable and consistent. A little understanding and experience can result in a lot of confidence.

As a bonus, here are a few tools to include in your website arsenal: