DNS stands for Domain Name System. In practical terms, it is the set of instructions that helps internet services work out where your domain should go.
DNS in simple terms
A useful analogy is a directory. You know the business by its domain name, while DNS provides the directions needed to reach the right online service.
Example: when somebody enters a builder's domain into a browser, DNS helps the browser find the service that should answer for that domain.
How do the domain, DNS, hosting and website fit together?
- Domain: the address people type, such as
example.co.uk. - DNS: the instructions that direct different parts of that domain.
- Hosting: the service where the website is made available online.
- Website: the pages and content visitors actually see.
The domain and hosting can be supplied by different companies, and DNS can sometimes be managed by a third provider again.
What are DNS records?
DNS is made up of different record types for different jobs. For example, an A record can point a hostname to an IPv4 address, while a CNAME record can make one hostname refer to another hostname.
Email services also use DNS records. This is one reason DNS should be changed carefully rather than treated as website-only settings.
Why might DNS need changing for a website?
When a new website goes live, the domain may need to point to a different destination. That can involve changing a DNS record or, in some setups, changing the nameservers.
If Toolbelt Websites asks you to make a DNS change, use the values and instructions supplied for your project and avoid changing unrelated records.
Last updated: 8 September 2026