Overview
Nameservers and DNS records are both part of how a domain works, but they serve different roles.
- Nameservers define which DNS provider is authoritative for your domain
- DNS records define how your domain behaves (website, email, etc.)
Nameservers
Nameservers tell the internet which DNS provider holds the authoritative DNS zone for your domain.
- Set at the domain registrar
- Point to a DNS provider (e.g., Rebel, Cloudflare)
- Control where DNS records are managed
👉 Changing nameservers = switching DNS providers
DNS Records
DNS records are stored at the DNS provider and define how your domain functions.
Common records include:
- A record → points your domain to a server (website)
- MX record → routes email
- CNAME → aliases one domain to another
- TXT → used for verification and email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
👉 Updating DNS records = changing how your services work
Key Difference
- Nameservers = who manages DNS
- DNS records = what the domain does
Simple Example
- Change nameservers → move DNS control to a new provider
- Change an A record → point your website to a new server
Key Takeaway
Nameservers control where DNS is managed, while DNS records control how your domain behaves.
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