DNS
Definition
Domain Name System – the internet's phone book that translates domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers understand.
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It's the system that translates human-readable domain names (like www.pinkfrog.studio) into the numeric IP addresses (like 192.168.1.1) that computers use to identify each other.
How DNS Works
- You type a URL into your browser
- Your computer asks a DNS server "What's the IP for this domain?"
- The DNS server looks up the answer
- Your browser connects to that IP address
- The website loads
This happens in milliseconds, thousands of times daily, without you noticing.
DNS Records
A Record
Points a domain to an IP address (IPv4).
AAAA Record
Points a domain to an IPv6 address.
CNAME
Points a subdomain to another domain (blog.example.com → example.blog.com).
MX Records
Tells email where to go.
TXT Records
Various verification and configuration purposes.
Why DNS Matters
Domain Setup
When you get a new domain, you need to configure DNS to point to your hosting.
Email Setup
DNS controls where your email gets delivered.
Downtime
DNS problems can make your entire site unreachable.
Speed
Slow DNS lookup adds to page load time.
DNS Providers
Many registrars provide DNS hosting, but dedicated DNS services (Cloudflare, Route 53) often offer:
- Faster lookup times
- Better security (DDoS protection)
- More advanced features
Changing DNS
DNS changes aren't instant. "Propagation" – the time for changes to spread across the internet – can take up to 48 hours, though it's often much faster.