What is a Name Server?
A name server is a DNS server that is authoritative for a zone. It answers queries for that zone with the records the operator of the zone has configured (for example A, AAAA, MX, and CNAME records). Without working authoritative name servers, hostnames in that zone cannot be resolved reliably.
When you request a site in a browser, your system does not contact your domain’s name servers directly. A DNS resolver follows a chain of lookups, eventually asking the authoritative name servers for your domain, which return the data your services need to be reached.
Note
“Name server”, “nameserver”, and other variants all refer to the same thing. For consistency, we refer to it here as a “name server”.
Table of Contents
- How resolvers use authoritative name servers
- Delegation and changing name servers
- Have more questions?
How resolvers use authoritative name servers
Resolvers start from the root and follow delegation until they reach the name servers that hold your zone data. Those authoritative servers are what people usually mean when they say “the name servers for the domain.” They are distinct from recursive resolvers (often run by ISPs or public DNS providers), which perform the full lookup on behalf of clients.
Delegation and changing name servers
Delegation is the statement, stored at your domain’s parent (typically via your registrar), that lists which hostnames are authoritative for your domain. When someone says they need to “change the name servers,” they usually mean updating that delegation at the registrar so the rest of the Internet uses a new set of authoritative servers.
That registrar-level change is separate from editing DNS records inside your zone at your DNS host (for example adding NS records for a child zone). Both involve NS records in the broad sense, but delegation at the registry defines who is authoritative for your apex domain; NS records in your zone can delegate subdomains.
DNSimple does not change delegation on your behalf without your action. To point a domain at DNSimple’s DNS:
- If the domain is registered with DNSimple, see Delegating a Domain registered with DNSimple to DNSimple.
- If the domain is registered elsewhere, see Delegating a Domain registered with another Registrar to DNSimple.
- If the domain is registered with DNSimple and you want to use another DNS provider, see Setting the Name Servers for a Domain.
For a general overview of pointing a domain to DNSimple, see Pointing a Domain to DNSimple. The hostnames and addresses you delegate to are listed in DNSimple Name Servers.
Tip
If your domain is not delegated to DNSimple name servers, changes you make in the record editor will not be used for public resolution. To verify what the world sees, use Pointing a Domain to DNSimple or an external lookup tool such as zone.vision.
Have more questions?
If you are not sure which steps apply to your domain, see Domain Delegation and Name Servers Explained for how registration, delegation, and DNS hosting fit together, and for links to the right How-to guides.
Check your name servers
Make sure to check your nameservers. If your domain isn’t delegated to DNSimple, then changes you make to DNS records won’t resolve. If you want to know which name servers your domain is using, you can use zone.vision to do a DNS Lookup.
If you have any questions about name servers or delegation, contact support, and we will be happy to help.