DNS and Nameservers

What Are DNS and Nameservers?

Your DNS records point your domain’s web address, email, and other components to their appropriate locations. DNS records are hosted at nameservers. So wherever your nameservers are located, that’s where you need to make your DNS changes. You can use the default nameservers with your domain registrar, point your domain to your web host’s nameservers, or point your domain to a third party DNS provider. Everything functions pretty much the same way, regardless of where your nameservers are located.

What Nameservers Should I Use?

I usually recommend using the default nameservers with your domain registrar. (My recommended domain registrar is NameCheap.) This way, you will be able to make DNS changes directly and immediately without having to go through your web host. And if your web host goes down, your email will not be affected, provided it isn’t hosted in the same place as your website. Using a third party DNS provider is an even better solution, as it adds another layer of security, but it is more complicated to set up and probably unnecessary for most businesses.