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DNS is probably one of the most confusing parts of hosting a website, email or any other online service. As a website owner, you may from time to time need to update some records in your DNS. This can be risky, as a small error in your DNS records and completely take your website down, or stop your email from working. In this article, we aim to unravel some complexities of DNS, to help you manage your website and online services effectively.
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It acts as the internet’s address book, translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers understand.
For example, when you visit hipposerve.co.uk, your browser doesn’t understand that name directly. It asks a DNS server which IP address that domain points to, then connects you to the correct server.
Without DNS, we would all need to remember long strings of numbers instead of simple website names.
DNS information for a domain is stored as a set of records. These records live on nameservers, also known as authoritative DNS servers.
When you register a domain or purchase hosting, nameservers are usually assigned automatically. For example, if your domain is hosted with Hipposerve, it may use nameservers such as:
These nameservers store all DNS records for your domain and control how your website, email, and other services behave.
You can change your nameservers if required. A common example is when a domain is registered with one provider but hosting is purchased elsewhere.
You may also choose to use a third-party DNS service, such as Cloudflare. In that case, you would update your domain to use the nameservers provided by that service.
It’s important to know where your DNS is hosted. Any DNS changes must be made on the active nameservers, otherwise they will have no effect.
You can check which nameservers your domain is using by visiting here.
A domain does not rely on a single DNS record. Instead, multiple record types work together to route traffic, handle email, and improve security.
Below are the most common DNS records you are likely to encounter.
A records map a domain name to an IPv4 address. They tell browsers where your website or service is hosted.
These records are usually created automatically when hosting is set up. They normally only need to be changed if you move hosting providers or servers.
AAAA records perform the same function as A records, but they point to IPv6 addresses instead of IPv4.
Many modern hosting platforms support both IPv4 and IPv6.
CNAME (Canonical Name) records are commonly used for subdomains. They point one domain name to another domain name.
For example, a subdomain such as sales.hipposerve.com can be routed to a different service using a CNAME record.
MX (Mail Exchange) records control how email is delivered for your domain. They tell mail servers where to send messages addressed to your domain.
If you use email addresses like name@yourdomain.co.uk, MX records ensure those emails reach the correct mailbox.
These are among the most frequently updated DNS records, especially when changing email providers.
TXT records are used for verification and security. They often contain data used by third-party services to confirm domain ownership.
They are also used for email security, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, which help prevent spam and email spoofing.
We’ve created a detailed guide covering all DNS record types and how to edit them safely: Managing DNS Records.
DNS changes do not take effect instantly. DNS servers around the world cache information to reduce load and improve performance.
When you update a DNS record, those changes must gradually refresh across global DNS servers. This process is known as DNS propagation.
Propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes up to 48 hours to complete, depending on caching rules and server refresh intervals.
During this time, different users may see different results. Some may reach the old service, while others see the updated one.
This is why DNS changes should ideally be made during low-traffic periods.
After making changes, you can monitor propagation using our free tool:
We also provide a step-by-step guide explaining how to interpret the results: Using the DNS Propagation Checker.
DNS plays a critical role in keeping your website, email, and online services working correctly.
Understanding where your DNS is hosted, what each record type does, and how propagation works can help you avoid downtime and unexpected issues.
If you’re unsure about your DNS configuration or need assistance, our support team is always happy to help. Visit https://help.hipposerve.com to get in touch.
The articles you’ll find here are part of Hipposerve’s growing archive, and some go back a little way. That means you may occasionally spot references to products we no longer offer, pricing that has since changed, or technologies and advice that reflected best practice at the time of writing but may not fully align with current thinking. We always aim to keep things accurate, but the web moves fast.
For the latest information on our services, features, pricing, and offers, please check the main pages of our website. And just to keep things clear — we’re unable to honour any prices or promotions mentioned in older blog posts. Thanks for reading, and happy browsing!
