What are DNS NS and A records?

Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical component of the internet infrastructure, responsible for translating human-readable domain names into their corresponding IP addresses. This process helps browsers and other internet-connected applications to locate and access websites or other resources on the internet. DNS records, such as NS, A, and others, play a crucial role in this process.

NS Record

NS stands for Name Server. An NS record is used to define the authoritative name servers for a domain. These name servers store DNS records for the domain and are responsible for responding to DNS queries about the domain. When a user types a domain name into a browser, the DNS resolver first looks for the domain's NS records to determine which name servers to contact for further information.

Each domain typically has at least two NS records for redundancy, ensuring that if one name server fails or becomes unavailable, the other can continue to provide DNS services for the domain. These records are usually set up during the domain registration process and can be managed through the domain registrar's control panel.

A Record

A stands for Address. An A record is used to map a domain or subdomain to its corresponding IPv4 address. When a user requests a website or resource, the A record tells the DNS resolver which IP address to connect to in order to access the content. This is a critical part of the process, as IP addresses are the actual "locations" on the internet where the resources are stored.

For example, if a user wants to visit example.com, their browser sends a DNS query for the A record of example.com. The DNS resolver finds the A record, which points to the IP address of the web server hosting the site. The browser then connects to that IP address to request and display the website content.