Quick summary
- What it is: Nameservers are the servers that tell the world's DNS system where the authoritative DNS zone for a domain is located, that is, where.
- What it's for: it helps connect the domain with the website, email and other associated services.
- When to check it: when changing DNS servers, connecting a domain, configuring email or reviewing propagation.
Nameservers are the servers that tell the world's DNS system where the authoritative DNS zone for a domain is located, that is, where the DNS records that control where that domain points are found.
What are nameservers used for?
When someone types your domain in the browser or sends you an email, the DNS system asks your domain's nameservers: "what is the IP of the web server?" or "what is the mail server?". The nameservers respond with that information based on the DNS records you have configured.
Where are nameservers configured?
Nameservers are configured at the domain registrar (the company where your domain is registered, such as the Bacan customer area, Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.). They are not configured in the hosting panel.
A typical example of Bacan nameservers:
ns1.bacan.com
ns2.bacan.com
When do you need to change nameservers?
You need to change nameservers when:
- You switch hosting providers and want your domain to point to the new server.
- Your new provider also manages the DNS zone for your domain.
- You want to use an external DNS provider (like Cloudflare).
Difference between changing nameservers and editing DNS records
These are two different things:
- Changing nameservers: Delegates the management of the entire DNS zone to another provider. This is a change at the domain registrar. It affects all DNS records.
- Editing DNS records (A, MX, CNAME…): Modifies specific entries within the current provider's DNS zone. Does not change who manages the zone.
After changing nameservers, you need to wait for DNS propagation, which can take up to 48 hours.
Why it matters in hosting
Understanding this concept will help you make better decisions when managing your service. In practice, it relates to the connection between the domain, the website, email and other associated services. If it appears in a guide, the control panel or a support response, review the context before making changes.
Related articles
- Domain
- DNS
- A Record
- CNAME Record
- MX Record