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On the internet, there are millions of websites that are up and running. They are hosted and managed by web servers located throughout the world. Finding a website and where it is hosted requires a directory, without which it is nearly impossible to find websites. DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it is the world's largest digital database for the internet.
This database contains data on every website on the planet. Every website and machine connected to the internet is assigned an IP address, which is a digital address. This database stores a website's domain name as well as its IP address. DNS records are data files that tell a web server how to respond to a search browser's request.
Details on DNS Records
DNS records are known as'mapping files' in computer jargon. When a web server receives a request from a user to visit a specific website, the request is routed to the DNS database. This database searches its records, determines the IP address of the website, and forwards it to the requesting server. The requesting server then uses the IP address to locate the website and display it to the user who initiated the request.
DNS syntax refers to the letters that are associated with DNS records. A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, PTR, NS, SOA, SRV, TXT, and NAPTR are some of the most common DNS record syntaxes.
DNS Syntax Explanation
The most basic type of syntax in a DNS record is the 'A' syntax. It stands for 'address' and represents the website's IP address.
The 'AAAA' record is a 128-bit IPV6 address that maps the hostname to.
The CNAME acronym stands for 'conical name' and is used to link subdomains to existing DNS records.
MX stands for mail exchange and is used to identify mail exchange servers.
The name 'PTR' denotes a pointer record that maps an IPV4 address to the CNAME.
The "NS" record, which stands for "name server," indicates the server on which the domain is hosted.
The 'SOA' record contains important information about the domain, such as when it was last updated, and so on.
The "SRV" record specifies which TCP service the domain provides.
The 'TXT' record allows the website administrator to include any text in the record.
Why do you need to examine DNS records?
Any website's DNS records contain critical information for webmasters and SEO. These records provide information about any website that you might be interested in viewing. If you want to know the IP address of a domain, look at the DNS records for that domain.
An IP address will tell you from which address the domain is hosted, and if you understand the structure of IP addresses, you will also know from which country the domain is hosted. IP addresses are assigned in the same way that phone numbers are. We know that each country has a unique number that is followed by a city code and then the actual telephone number. To make an international call, dial the international code, the area code, and the actual number. Similarly, IP addresses are assigned according to a specific structure.
When you look at DNS records, you can also see the addresses of any subdomains that are associated with the domain. Also, when was the domain last updated, what is its refresh rate, and so on.
You should look at a competitor's DNS records to see where it is hosted and other information about the website. When setting up or managing a website, webmasters and SEOs can benefit from DNS records.
How to find DNS records
If you want to find DNS records of a domain, you will need to use an SEO tool which will fetch and display these records for you. To do this, go to smallseotools.com from your search browser and scroll down the icons till you spot the ‘Find DNS records’ icon and click on it. Or you can go directly to the tool by copy/pasting smallseotools.com/find-dns-records in your search browser.
Once there, enter the domain name of the website whose DNS records you want it to retrieve. Press 'Submit,' and the DNS records for the domain will be returned in seconds. You can view all DNS records for a domain here. You can now look through the records and see the IP address listed in the 'A' type record. The list will also include NS, SOA, MX, and TXT records.
All of the information contained in DNS records is extremely useful in understanding the environment in which a domain operates and all of the parameters associated with it.
You can also perform Google DNS lookups, DNS whois searches, and DNS record digging. If you need assistance, you can learn how to use lookup to find an IP address.
Summary
Obtaining and analyzing DNS records is critical for SEO and webmasters. When you decide to use a web hosting service, you'll need to know your website's IP address as well as the additional services offered by the web servers for your domain. If your internet service or refresh rate is slow, you can request that your web hosting service provider improve them.
No website can function unless its DNS records are stored in the DNS database. The database contains all of the necessary information about a website.
All web servers use it to process a visitor's request and direct them to the correct location. For example, a website owner may decide to switch web hosting providers and transfer the domain to a better provider. When he or she signs up for the new hosting servers, the first thing that happens is that the domain's information in the DNS records is updated.
No website can function on the internet without DNS records.