Articles on: Domains

Understanding DNS Records and Nameservers

DNS (Domain Name System) records are important parts of the internet that help translate domain names (like yourwebsite.com) into IP addresses (the numerical address of a server). Knowing about DNS records is essential for managing your website effectively.

What Are DNS Records?

DNS records are like entries in an address book that provide information about your domain. Here are some common types of DNS records:

A Record: This links your domain name to its IP address (e.g., yourwebsite.com to 192.0.2.1).
MX Record: This tells where emails sent to your domain should go.
TXT Record: This holds text data for verification, like confirming your website with Google.
CNAME Record: This allows you to point one domain name to another (e.g., linking www.yourwebsite.com to yourwebsite.com).

What Are Nameservers?

Nameservers are special servers that handle requests for your domain names. They help direct traffic to the correct location. For example, if your website is hosted with Elitehost, your name servers might look like this:

Important: For your DNS records to work, your domain must point to the correct name servers. For example, if you're using Cloudflare, you won't manage your DNS settings in cPanel; instead, you'll need to make changes in your Cloudflare account.

Managing DNS Records in cPanel

For instructions on how to manage your DNS records, please check out our article: How do I add/modify my domain’s DNS records?.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to contact our support team or email helpdesk@elitehost.co.za.

Updated on: 15/04/2025

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