Understanding DNS Settings

If you're new to setting up a website, DNS (Domain Name System) settings can seem intimidating. However, understanding how they work is essential for getting your website live on the internet. In this blog post, we’ll break down the key DNS settings and show you how to use them to point your domain to Squarespace.

What is DNS?

DNS is like the internet’s phonebook. When you type a domain name (like yourwebsite.com) into your browser, DNS translates that name into an IP address, which tells the browser where to find the website you’re looking for. DNS settings are configurations that allow you to control how your domain name behaves and where it points.

Key DNS Settings Explained

A Record (Address Record)

What it is: The A record maps your domain name to an IP address, which is the address of your web server.

Example: If you’re pointing your domain to Squarespace, you might set an A record that points yourwebsite.com to Squarespace’s IP address.

Use Case: This is the most common DNS record and is essential for directing traffic to your website.

CNAME Record (Canonical Name Record)

What it is: A CNAME record points a subdomain (like www.yourwebsite.com) to another domain name rather than an IP address.

Example: To ensure that visitors who type www.yourwebsite.com are directed to your Squarespace site, you would create a CNAME record that points www to ext-cust.squarespace.com.

Use Case: CNAME records are useful for redirecting subdomains to the main domain or other services, such as email or content delivery networks.

MX Record (Mail Exchange Record)

What it is: MX records direct email to servers responsible for processing email messages for your domain.

Example: If you’re using a third-party email service, like Google Workspace, you would update the MX records to point to Google’s mail servers.

Use Case: MX records are crucial if you want to receive emails at an address associated with your domain (like you@yourwebsite.com).

TXT Record (Text Record)

What it is: A TXT record is used to store text information related to your domain. This can include verification data or security-related information.

Example: To verify your domain with Squarespace or set up security features like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), you might add a TXT record that includes specific values provided by the service.

Use Case: TXT records are versatile and often used for domain verification, email authentication, and other configurations.

NS Record (Name Server Record)

What it is: NS records indicate which name servers are authoritative for your domain.

Example: When you register a domain, it typically comes with default NS records from the registrar. If you’re managing DNS elsewhere (like with Squarespace), you may need to update the NS records to point to the new provider.

Use Case: NS records are crucial for directing traffic to the correct DNS host and ensuring that your other DNS records (like A, CNAME, etc.) are recognized and propagated correctly.

TTL (Time to Live)

What it is: TTL determines how long a DNS record is cached by DNS servers and ISPs before they request a fresh copy.

Example: If you’re making frequent changes to your DNS settings, you might set a low TTL (like 300 seconds) to ensure changes propagate quickly. Once everything is set, you can increase the TTL to a higher value (like 86400 seconds) for better performance.

Use Case: TTL settings can affect how quickly changes to your DNS settings are recognized across the internet. Lower TTL speeds up propagation but can increase server load.