Understanding Domain Name Registrations, Name Servers, and DNS Records

Domain Name Registrations

A domain name is the address people use to access your website or online service (e.g., www.example.com). Think of
it like a street address for your website. When you register a domain name, you're essentially reserving that address from others.

Here's what happens when you register a domain name:

1. You choose a registrar (a company that manages domain names) and select the domain name you want to register.
2. The registrar verifies the availability of the domain name and checks if it's already registered by someone else.
3. If the domain name is available, you pay the registration fee, and the registrar adds your information to their database as the owner of that domain name.

Name Servers

Now that you have a registered domain name, you need to tell the world where to find your website (i.e., what server has the files for your website). This is where name servers come in.

A name server is like a phonebook for the internet. It's a special kind of computer program that keeps track of which IP addresses are associated with which domain names. When someone types in your domain name, their computer asks a name server: "Hey, what IP address should I use to find www.example.com?" The name server then looks up the information and says, "Ah, yes! The IP address for that domain is 192.0.2.1."

DNS Records

DNS records (short for Domain Name System records) are like little notes that name servers use to keep track of this information. Think of them as a set of instructions that says: "Hey, when someone asks about www.example.com, tell them to go to IP
address 192.0.2.1!"

Here are some common types of DNS records:

• A record (IPv4): Maps a domain name to an IPv4 (IP version 4) address.
• CNAME record: Maps one domain name to another (e.g., when you have multiple subdomains).
• MX record: Points to the mail server for your domain name.
• NS record: Specifies which name servers are responsible for your domain.

When someone types in your domain name, their computer asks a name server: "What's the IP address for
www.example.com?" The name server then looks up the DNS records and says: "Ah, yes! According to this A record, the
IP address is 192.0.2.1."

In summary:

• Domain name registration is like reserving a street address for your website.
• Name servers are like phonebooks that keep track of which domain names are associated with which IP addresses.
• DNS records are the little notes that name servers use to find this information.

We hope that helps you understand these concepts!