DNS is the reason you can type yourbusiness.in instead of a string of numbers, and the reason your email reaches the right mailbox. You never see it working, but every website visit and every email starts with a DNS lookup. This guide explains what DNS is in plain terms, how a lookup works step by step, the record types you will meet, and what it means for your own domain.
DNS, the Domain Name System, is the internet's address book: it turns names such as yourbusiness.in into the IP addresses computers use to find each other. Your domain's nameservers decide which provider holds its DNS, and that provider's records say where the website (A, CNAME) and email (MX, TXT) live. Changes are not instant, because networks cache answers for a while, usually a few hours and up to 24-48 hours.
1. What DNS is, in one paragraph
Every server on the internet has an IP address, such as 203.0.113.10 (IPv4) or 2001:db8::10 (IPv6). People remember names, not numbers. The Domain Name System (DNS) is a worldwide, distributed directory that connects the two. When you type a domain into a browser, DNS answers the question "which IP address is this?", and when someone emails you, it answers "which server accepts mail for this domain?". No single computer holds the whole directory: millions of servers each hold their own part, and they point to each other.
2. How a DNS lookup works, step by step
A lookup usually takes a fraction of a second.
- Your device asks a resolver.Your phone or computer sends "where is www.yourbusiness.in?" to a DNS resolver, usually run by your internet provider or a public service.
- The resolver checks its cache.If it looked up the same name recently, it answers straight away.
- If not, it asks a root server.The root servers don't know your domain, but they know which servers handle each extension, such as
.inor.com. - It asks the extension's registry servers.The
.inservers don't hold your website's address either. They reply with your domain's nameservers, the ones your registrar published. - It asks your nameservers.These are authoritative for your domain, so they give the real answer, such as the IP address in your A record.
- Your device connects.The browser connects to that IP address and loads the site. The resolver keeps the answer in its cache for the record's TTL, so the next visitor gets it faster.
Step 4 is the key point: the registry does not store your website's address, only which nameservers to ask. For more on this, read What is a nameserver and why do I need it.
3. The parts of DNS
| Part | What it does | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Resolver (recursive server) | Does the lookup on your behalf and caches answers | Your internet provider, or a public service |
| Root servers | Point to the servers for each extension | Independent root server operators |
| Registry (TLD) servers | Point to each domain's nameservers | The registry for the extension, such as NIXI for .in |
| Authoritative nameservers | Hold your domain's records and give the final answer | Your hosting provider, a DNS service such as Cloudflare, or a website platform |
| DNS records | The answers themselves: website address, mail server and so on | You, or your provider, at the nameservers' DNS editor |
4. Common DNS record types
You don't need to learn every record type. These are the ones you will meet when setting up a website and email. @ means the domain itself.
| Record | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Points a name to an IPv4 address | @ → 203.0.113.10 |
| AAAA | Points a name to an IPv6 address | @ → 2001:db8::10 |
| CNAME | Makes a name an alias of another hostname | www → yourbusiness.in |
| MX | Names the server that receives email, with a priority (lowest first) | @ → 10 mail.yourbusiness.in |
| TXT | Holds text such as SPF rules and domain verification codes | @ → v=spf1 a mx ~all |
| NS | Names the nameservers for the domain | @ → ns1.example-dns.com |
| CAA | Limits which authorities may issue SSL certificates | @ → 0 issue "letsencrypt.org" |
| SRV | Points a specific service to a server and port | used by some calling and chat systems |
Three email-security standards are published as TXT records: SPF lists the servers allowed to send your email, DKIM holds a public key that proves messages weren't altered, and DMARC tells receivers what to do with mail that fails those checks. Getting them right is the difference between the inbox and the spam folder. See Understanding SPF, DKIM and DMARC, and DNS records explained for more types.
A PTR record does the reverse of an A record: it maps an IP address back to a name. It is set by whoever owns the IP address, usually the hosting company, not in your domain's DNS.
5. Nameservers vs DNS records
Two different settings are both called "DNS", and mixing them up causes most problems.
- Nameservers decide who answers for your domain. You set them at your registrar.
- DNS records are the answers. They live at whichever provider your nameservers point to.
That has one big consequence: changing nameservers moves all of your DNS at once, website and email together. If the new provider doesn't have your mail records, email stops arriving. When you only want to point the website somewhere new, change its A or CNAME records instead. How to change your domain DNS settings shows which to change and where.
6. Why DNS changes take time
DNS is fast because of caching: resolvers remember answers for as long as each record's TTL (time to live) allows, often an hour or a few hours. The same caching is why a change is not instant. Until the cached copy expires, some visitors still get the old answer.
DNS changes usually take effect within a few hours and can take up to 24-48 hours to reach every network. There is no guaranteed time, and nobody can "push" a change to every network. A phone on mobile data may show the new site while your office computer still shows the old one; that usually means the change worked and your computer has an old copy cached. Read Understanding DNS propagation for the details.
7. How to look up DNS yourself
You can ask DNS directly from a terminal:
dig NS yourbusiness.in +short # which nameservers answer for the domain
dig A yourbusiness.in +short # the website's IPv4 address
dig MX yourbusiness.in +short # where email is delivered
dig TXT yourbusiness.in +short # SPF and verification recordsOn Windows, use nslookup -type=ns yourbusiness.in, nslookup -type=mx yourbusiness.in and so on, in Command Prompt or PowerShell. If the answers are not what you expect, Debugging nameserver and DNS issues walks through the common causes.
8. Keeping your DNS safe
Whoever controls your DNS controls where your website and email go, so protect the accounts behind it.
DNSSEC adds digital signatures to DNS answers so resolvers can detect forged responses. It needs support from both your DNS provider and your domain's extension, and a mistake in its setup can take a domain offline, so enable it only when you understand how your provider handles it.
9. Where Domain India fits
Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar, and every domain you register with us is managed from one client area, including its nameservers and transfer lock. When the domain uses the nameservers of a Domain India hosting plan, the control panel manages your DNS records for you: cPanel through its Zone Editor, DirectAdmin through its DNS management page. Use the nameservers shown for your own hosting account, on your hosting service page or in your welcome email.
Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST: a .in domain is ₹575 for the first year (₹625 to renew) and a .com is ₹1,150 a year. DirectAdmin hosting starts at ₹100 a month and cPanel hosting at ₹125 a month, both with email accounts included.
- 10 GB NVMe SSD Storage
- 50 GB Monthly Bandwidth
- 1 Website
- 5 Email Accounts
- 25 GB NVMe SSD Storage
- 50 GB Monthly Bandwidth
- 1 Website
- 10 Email Accounts
Support is available by 24/7 live chat and by ticket, with a first response to tickets within 15 minutes; resolution can take longer depending on the issue. There is no phone support.
Frequently asked questions
What is DNS in simple words?
DNS, the Domain Name System, is the internet's address book. It translates domain names such as yourbusiness.in into the IP addresses that computers use to connect, and it tells mail servers where to deliver email for a domain.
What is the difference between DNS and a nameserver?
DNS is the whole system of names and answers. A nameserver is one of the servers in that system: the one that holds your domain's records and gives the final answer. Your domain's nameservers decide which provider manages its DNS.
What is a DNS record?
A DNS record is one entry in your domain's DNS, such as an A record with the website's IP address, an MX record naming the mail server, or a TXT record with an SPF rule. Records are stored at the provider your nameservers point to.
Why does a DNS change take hours to work?
Because resolvers cache DNS answers for as long as each record's TTL allows. Until the cached copy expires, some visitors still get the old answer. Changes usually take effect within a few hours and can take up to 24-48 hours.
Does changing nameservers affect email?
Yes. Changing nameservers moves all of your DNS, including the MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records email depends on. Make sure the new provider has your email records before you switch, or change only the website's A or CNAME records instead.
How can I check my domain's DNS?
Run dig NS yourdomain +short on macOS or Linux, or nslookup -type=ns yourdomain on Windows, to see which nameservers answer. Replace NS with A, MX or TXT to see the website address, mail servers or text records.
Ready to put DNS to work? Register a domain, connect it to DirectAdmin or cPanel hosting, and follow How to change your domain DNS settings when you need to point it somewhere. If anything is unclear, open a support ticket.
Register your domain with Domain India and manage its nameservers from the same client area as your hosting.
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