The Domain Name System (DNS) is a foundational component of internet infrastructure. While many encounter it when registering a domain or setting up a website, its role is often misunderstood. DNS translates human-friendly domain names like coolexample.com into the numerical IP addresses that computers use to locate each other online. This essential service allows users to access websites with simple, memorable names instead of strings of digits.

To illustrate: before smartphones, people often memorized phone numbers or recorded them in notebooks or directories. Today, we save names in our contact lists and simply tap a name to initiate a call—no number memorization required.

DNS works the same way for the internet. Instead of remembering IP addresses like 50.63.202.40 (IPv4) or 2001:0db8:85a3::0371:7234 (IPv6), users type domain names. DNS then maps these to their corresponding IP addresses so devices can connect and load the correct website content.

How DNS Works

Understanding DNS involves following the steps a query takes when you enter a domain in your browser:

  1. Query Initiation
    The process begins when a user types a domain name (e.g., coolexample.com) into the browser. A DNS query is triggered to resolve this domain to its IP address.
  2. Root Servers
    The request is first sent to a root nameserver. There are 13 root server clusters globally that direct the query to the appropriate TLD (Top-Level Domain) nameserver.
  3. TLD Nameservers
    The TLD (e.g., .com, .org, .net, or country codes like .uk) helps locate the authoritative nameserver responsible for the specific domain.
  4. Authoritative Nameserver
    This server contains the zone file for the domain, including records such as A, CNAME, MX, and others. For example, the A record for coolexample.com provides the exact IP address the browser needs to connect and load the website.

DNS resolution may vary slightly depending on caching and infrastructure, and updates to DNS records can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate across the internet.

Nameservers and DNS Management

The term “changing nameservers” often arises when configuring DNS. This action determines which provider hosts your DNS zone file, which is the file that contains your domain’s DNS records.

Most domains are assigned at least two nameservers. For example:

  • If your domain uses Particlescrolls nameservers, your DNS zone is managed within your Particlescrolls account.
  • If you switch to another provider’s nameservers, the zone file moves with them, and you’ll need to manage records from their platform instead.

Managing DNS

Once you understand the basics, managing your DNS through Particlescrolls becomes intuitive.

From there, you can perform a variety of actions:

  • Point your domain to your website:
    Modify the A record to direct traffic to your hosting server’s IP address.
  • Set up domain forwarding:
    Redirect your domain to another URL, such as a social profile or marketing page.
  • Configure email delivery:
    Use MX records to route email traffic to your designated mail servers.
  • Create a subdomain for a store or app:
    Add subdomains (like shop.coolexample.com) and point them to different IP addresses.
  • Switch DNS providers:
    Change nameservers to delegate DNS management to another service.

Most changes take effect within 1 hour, although full propagation can take up to 48 hours globally.

Need Help? We’re Here for You

We understand DNS can feel technical. That’s why the Particlescrolls platform is built to simplify management while providing robust features. Our team is continuously improving tools and support options to ensure a smooth, secure experience—whether you’re launching a personal project or scaling a digital brand.