What is DNS? - Definition & Meaning
Learn what DNS (Domain Name System) is, how domain resolution works, which DNS records exist, and why DNS is crucial for the internet.
Definition
DNS (Domain Name System) is the system that translates domain names like mgsoftware.nl into IP addresses that computers understand. It functions as the phone book of the internet.
Technical explanation
DNS resolution follows a hierarchical system. A query traverses: the local resolver cache, the recursive resolver (typically from the ISP), root nameservers (13 clusters worldwide), TLD nameservers (.nl, .com), and finally the authoritative nameserver that provides the definitive answer. Common DNS records include A (IPv4 address), AAAA (IPv6 address), CNAME (alias to another domain), MX (mail server), TXT (verification and SPF/DKIM/DMARC for email security), NS (nameserver delegation), and SRV (service discovery). TTL (Time-To-Live) determines how long a record may be cached. DNS propagation is the time needed for changes to take effect globally, typically 1-48 hours depending on TTL settings. DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures to prevent DNS spoofing. Anycast DNS, as offered by Cloudflare, routes queries to the nearest nameserver for minimal latency. DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) encrypt DNS queries for privacy protection. GeoDNS enables location-based routing.
How MG Software applies this
MG Software configures DNS through Cloudflare for all client domains. We set up CNAME records for Vercel deployments, configure MX records for business email, and implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for optimal email deliverability. Cloudflare's proxy mode provides our clients with free DDoS protection and CDN caching on top of DNS.
Practical examples
- A business setting up A records pointing to their server IP and configuring MX records for business email via Google Workspace after registering a new domain.
- An online store using CNAME records to point shop.example.com to their Vercel deployment, with automatic SSL certificates.
- An international organization using GeoDNS to route European visitors to an EU server and American visitors to a US server for optimal speed and compliance.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
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