Home > Empowering Tips > DNS Hosting 101: Understanding the Foundation of Your Domain
When you register a domain, you might already know you need web hosting to publish your site and email hosting to manage your business communication. But there’s one more essential component that keeps everything connected — DNS hosting. Without it, your domain wouldn’t know where your website or email servers are located. Let’s explore what DNS hosting is and why it’s required for every domain.
A Quick Recap: What Is DNS
In simple terms, DNS (Domain Name System) is what connects human-friendly domain names like yourdomain.com to the numerical IP addresses that computers use to locate servers on the internet. It’s essentially the internet’s phone book.
If you’d like a deeper explanation of how DNS works, you can read our full article here: DNS Basics: How it facilitates website access and email delivery
What Is DNS Hosting?
DNS hosting is the service responsible for storing and managing your domain’s DNS records. These records are the instructions that tell the internet where your website, email, and other services are located.
For example:
- The A record points your domain to your website’s server IP address.
- The MX record directs emails to your mail server.
- The TXT record stores information used for verification or security (like SPF, DKIM, or third-party service verification).
Without DNS hosting, these records would have nowhere to live, meaning your domain couldn’t connect to your website or deliver emails.
Why Every Domain Needs DNS Hosting
Every domain name must have DNS hosting to function properly online. Even if your website isn’t ready yet, your domain still needs a DNS host so that email and other connected services can work.
You can think of DNS hosting as the “map” that helps browsers and mail servers find your online destinations. Without it:
- Your website visitors would see an error page.
- Your emails would fail to deliver.
- Any external service linked to your domain wouldn’t verify correctly.
DNS Hosting vs. Web Hosting
It’s common to confuse DNS hosting with web hosting, but they serve entirely different purposes.
| Feature | DNS Hosting | Web Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Stores and manages DNS records for your domain | Stores website files and makes your site accessible online |
| Data Managed | Records like A, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS | HTML files, images, scripts, databases |
| Role | Tells browsers and email systems where to go | Displays your website content once reached |
In simple terms:
- DNS hosting tells browsers where to find your website.
- Web hosting shows your website once they get there.
When You Host DNS at a Service Provider
When you host your DNS with a provider, it means your domain’s records are stored and managed on their DNS servers. You’ll usually control these settings from your provider’s control panel.
By pointing your domain to their name servers, you’re telling the internet: “This provider handles all my DNS information”.
A reliable DNS hosting provider ensures:
- Fast global propagation of DNS updates
- Redundant DNS servers to prevent downtime
- Secure record management and protection against DNS-related attacks
Who Usually Provides DNS Hosting
Your DNS hosting is typically managed by one of the following providers:
- Your Domain Registrar
Most domain registrars provide free DNS hosting when you register a domain. This is the most common arrangement, especially if you manage everything in one place. - Your Web and/or Email Hosting Provider
In many cases, your web hosting or email hosting provider can also serve as your DNS hosting provider. For example, if you host your website or email with Lookafter, you’ll receive our nameservers (e.g., ns7.agnx.com, ns8.agnx.com), which you can set at your domain registrar. Once applied, your domain will use our DNS service to direct traffic for your website, email, and any related records. A DNS management portal is also provided for you to view or edit your records anytime.
You can check who currently hosts your DNS by performing a WHOIS lookup or checking your domain’s name servers. The listed name servers will show which company is providing DNS hosting for your domain.
In Summary
DNS hosting is one of those unseen but critical parts of running a domain. It ensures that when someone types your domain or sends you an email, everything goes to the right place. Choosing a reliable DNS hosting provider means your online presence stays connected, secure, and uninterrupted.
Still have questions about DNS hosting? The FAQ below covers the most common topics we receive from users.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do I need DNS hosting if I already have web hosting?
Yes. DNS hosting manages how your domain connects to your web and mail servers. Some web hosts include DNS hosting automatically, but technically, they are different services.
2. Can my domain registrar also host my DNS?
Yes. Most registrars offer free DNS hosting when you buy a domain from them.
3. Who is currently hosting my DNS?
You can find your DNS host by checking your domain’s name servers. The company that owns those name servers is your DNS host.
Here’s how to check:
- Go to a public WHOIS lookup site (such as who.is).
- Enter your domain name.
- Look for the section labelled “Name Server” or “Nameservers”. The listed servers identify your DNS host.
If your domain uses our servers (e.g., ns7.agnx.com, ns8.agnx.com), it means your DNS hosting is managed by Lookafter.
4. Can I use different providers for DNS, web, and email hosting?
Yes, it’s possible — though most users host them all in one place for convenience and reliability. However, some users choose to separate them for specific reasons, such as using a specialized DNS provider for faster global response times, or moving web hosting while keeping email and DNS unchanged.
5. Is DNS hosting free?
It depends on your provider. Many registrars and hosting companies include basic DNS hosting for free, while premium DNS services charge for advanced features like traffic routing, redundancy, or faster resolution.
For our customers, DNS hosting is complimentary when you subscribe to any of our web hosting or email hosting services.
6. Do I need DNS hosting if my domain doesn’t have a website or email?
Not necessarily. If your domain is not being used for a website, email, or other online services, DNS hosting may not be required. However, some services (such as domain forwarding) still require DNS hosting.
7. I’ve registered a new domain. Can I host DNS with Lookafter?
Yes! If you subscribe to our Domain Hosting Service (yearly subscription), Lookafter can host your DNS. We will provide the name servers (NS) for you to update at your domain registrar, and you’ll get access to a portal to manage your DNS records.
Contact us for more details or to get started.
8. How do I access my DNS records if I host DNS with Lookafter?
If your DNS is hosted with us, you can manage your DNS records directly from your hosting control panel. Simply log in to the administrator account, navigate to Profile > Admin > Manage DNS, and you’ll be able to view, add, or update your DNS records.
For detailed instructions, please refer to our guide: How to Manage Domain Configuration
9. Can I request my DNS service provider to update my DNS records?
Yes, you can request your DNS service provider to make changes to your DNS records on your behalf.
For Lookafter, we generally offer this as a one-time service, and a service fee may apply.
10. How long does it take for DNS changes to take effect?
DNS changes, such as updating nameservers or records, usually take between a few minutes to several hours to propagate worldwide. In some cases, it may take up to 24 hours depending on ISP cache updates.
11. What if I transfer my domain to another provider?
When you transfer a domain, you can choose to keep your current DNS hosting or switch to the new provider’s nameservers. If you keep the same DNS, your website and email should continue working without interruption. If you switch, make sure all necessary DNS records are copied over before updating nameservers.
12. What happens if my DNS hosting goes down?
If your DNS hosting becomes unavailable, your website and email will stop working temporarily because your domain won’t be able to locate the servers that handle those services. When this happens, contact your DNS hosting provider immediately to confirm if there’s a known issue or maintenance in progress.