What is DNS? A plain-English guide
DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet’s phone book. People remember names
(example.com); computers need numbers (an IP address like 203.0.113.10). DNS
translates one into the other so your browser knows which server to talk to.
What happens when you visit a site
- You type
example.com. - Your computer asks DNS, “what’s the IP for example.com?”
- DNS answers with the server’s IP.
- Your browser connects to that IP and loads the site.
All in a fraction of a second, every single visit.
The record types you’ll actually use
| Record | Points a name at… | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| A | an IPv4 address | your website → your server |
| AAAA | an IPv6 address | same, over IPv6 |
| CNAME | another name | aliases, external services |
| MX | a mail server | receiving email |
| TXT | arbitrary text | SPF, DKIM, DMARC, verifications |
| NS | a nameserver | which servers are authoritative for the domain |
The practical ones to point a site live: an A record for the web, MX records for email, and TXT records for mail authentication.
Why DNS changes aren’t instant (“propagation”)
DNS answers are cached all over the internet to make lookups fast, using a value called TTL (time to live). When you change a record, caches keep serving the old answer until their TTL expires — usually 5–30 minutes, occasionally longer. Lower a record’s TTL before a planned change so the switch is quick.
Who runs DNS for your domain
Whoever hosts your authoritative nameservers — your registrar, a DNS provider, or your own server. OrbixPanel can be authoritative (it runs BIND), so you manage A/MX/TXT/CNAME records right in the panel — see point your domain.
When DNS goes wrong
A site that won’t load is often DNS, not the server — fix a domain that won’t resolve.
Running OrbixPanel? Manage authoritative DNS for your domains right in the panel. OrbixPanel.com → — the free, self-hosted, AI-powered hosting control panel.