NS records, or Name Server records, are an essential component of the Domain Name System (DNS) that help define the authoritative name servers responsible for a specific domain or subdomain. These records indicate which DNS servers are responsible for providing DNS information (such as IP addresses, mail server addresses, etc.) for a particular domain.
Here’s how NS records work:
- Authoritative Name Servers:
Each domain must have authoritative name servers that hold the DNS records for that domain. These name servers are responsible for providing DNS information to queries from other DNS servers or clients. - NS Records:
NS records are DNS resource records that list the domain names of the authoritative name servers for a domain. They are stored in the DNS zone file for the parent domain and provide information about where to find the authoritative name servers that can answer queries for that domain. - Delegation:
When a domain is delegated to another DNS provider or host, NS records are updated in the parent domain’s DNS zone to point to the authoritative name servers of the new provider. This allows queries for the delegated domain to be directed to the correct name servers. - Example:
Let’s say you own the domain “example.com.” You have registered authoritative name servers with your domain registrar or hosting provider, and these name servers hold the DNS records for “example.com.” You would create NS records in the DNS zone file for “example.com” that list the domain names of your authoritative name servers. For example:
- NS1.EXAMPLE.COM
- NS2.EXAMPLE.COM Anyone querying for information about “example.com” will be directed to these authoritative name servers to retrieve the necessary DNS records.
NS records play a crucial role in the DNS hierarchy by allowing the DNS system to locate the correct name servers to resolve domain-related queries. They are a fundamental part of the infrastructure that enables the translation of human-readable domain names into IP addresses and other resource records.