What is DNS

Lesson 8 of 12, 6 min

About this lesson

Summary

DNS is the internet's phone book. Learn what it does and why changes take time to show.

Follow along

Steps

Think of DNS as a phone book that turns your domain name into the place your website lives.
Your DNS settings hold small entries called records. One sends visitors to your website, and another sends your email to the right place.
A change can take minutes or hours to reach everyone.
Find your DNS settings, and take care not to break them.

In writing

In a few words

DNS is the internet’s phone book. You type a domain name, and DNS looks up which host holds that website, so the right pages appear. You will see DNS when you set up a domain, because you add small entries called records to tell the internet where to send visitors and email. Changes can take a few minutes, and sometimes a few hours, to reach everyone, so be patient.

Words explained

DNS: the system that connects a domain name to the place your website lives.

Record: one entry in your DNS settings, such as where your website or email should go.