{"id":19066,"date":"2024-03-20T06:11:05","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T03:11:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/?p=19066"},"modified":"2025-09-24T19:10:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:10:27","slug":"what-is-name-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Name Server"},"content":{"rendered":"<br \/>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#What_is_name_server\" >What is name server?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#How_Name_Servers_Work\" >How Name Servers Work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#Common_Name_Server_Terms\" >Common Name Server Terms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#FAQs_About_Name_Servers\" >FAQs About Name Servers<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#Q_Can_I_have_multiple_name_servers_for_my_domain\" >Q: Can I have multiple name servers for my domain?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#Q_What_does_it_mean_if_my_name_servers_are_%E2%80%9Cunreachable%E2%80%9D\" >Q: What does it mean if my name servers are &#8220;unreachable&#8221;?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#Q_Can_I_host_my_own_name_servers\" >Q: Can I host my own name servers?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#Q_How_long_does_it_take_for_name_server_changes_to_propagate\" >Q: How long does it take for name server changes to propagate?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#Q_Can_I_change_my_name_servers\" >Q: Can I change my name servers?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/what-is-name-server\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_name_server\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/blog\/what-are-nameservers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What is name server<\/a>?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/kb\/getting-started-guide\/configuring-domain-settings\/setting-the-name-servers-dns-for-a-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Name servers<\/a> are <a href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/the-ultimate-guide-to-amazon-web-hosting-everything-you-need-to-know\/\">a<\/a> crucial component of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain name<\/a> System (<a href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/index.php?rp=\/knowledgebase\/128\/How-to-manage-your-DNS-settings-for-your-domain.html\">DNS<\/a>), which is responsible for translating human-readable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain names<\/a> into machine-readable IP addresses. In simpler terms, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/kb\/getting-started-guide\/configuring-domain-settings\/setting-the-name-servers-dns-for-a-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">name server<\/a> is like a phone directory for the internet, helping to connect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain names<\/a> with the actual servers where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/website-builder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a> content is stored.<\/p>\n<p>In more technical terms, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/kb\/getting-started-guide\/configuring-domain-settings\/setting-the-name-servers-dns-for-a-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">name servers<\/a> are computers that are specifically designed to handle <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/what-is-a-query\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">queries<\/a> from other devices on the internet regarding the location of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain name<\/a>&#8216;s corresponding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/what-is-ip-address\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ip address<\/a>. This process is essential for the functioning of the internet, as it ensures that when a user types in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/domain-name-search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">name<\/a> in their web browser, they are directed to the correct server that houses the content they are looking for.<\/p>\n<p>Without name servers, the internet would be much more difficult to navigate, as users would have to remember a series of random numbers (IP addresses) rather than easy-to-remember <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain<\/a> names.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Name_Servers_Work\"><\/span>How Name Servers Work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When a user types in a domain name (e.g. www.example.com) in their web browser, the browser sends a request to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/what-is-dns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dns<\/a> resolver (usually provided by the Internet Service Provider) to translate <a href=\"https:\/\/support.hostinger.com\/en\/articles\/6807580-website-builder-how-to-change-a-domain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the domain<\/a> name into an IP address. The DNS resolver then queries the root name servers to find the authoritative name servers for the domain. These authoritative name servers are responsible for storing the DNS records of the domain, including the IP address of the website&#8217;s server.<\/p>\n<p>Once the authoritative name servers are identified, the DNS resolver sends requests to them to obtain the IP address of the domain name the user is trying to access. The authoritative name servers then respond with the IP address, which is then used by the user&#8217;s web browser to connect to the server <a href=\"https:\/\/hostadvice.com\/tools\/whois\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hosting the website<\/a>&#8216;s content.<\/p>\n<p>Essentially, name servers are like the traffic directors of the internet, ensuring that users are directed to the correct destination when they type in a domain name.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Name_Server_Terms\"><\/span>Common Name Server Terms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To understand name servers better, it&#8217;s important to be familiar with some common terms related to them:<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8211; Authoritative Name Server:<\/strong> These are the name servers that store the actual DNS records for a domain. When a DNS resolver needs to find the IP address of a domain name, it queries the authoritative name servers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8211; DNS Records:<\/strong> These are the records stored on authoritative name servers that map domain names to IP addresses and perform other DNS-related tasks, such as handling email routing.<\/p>\n<p><!--KB_CAT_BLOCK--><\/p>\n<figure class=\"kb-cat-placeholder\" style=\"margin:1.75rem 0;display:block;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/assets\/img\/cat-domains.webp\" alt=\"What Is Name Server\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;border-radius:12px;box-shadow:0 8px 28px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><strong>&#8211; Zone File:<\/strong> This is a file that contains the DNS records for a domain, including information about the domain&#8217;s name servers, IP addresses, and other DNS settings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8211; DNS Resolver:<\/strong> This is a server that is responsible for handling DNS queries from clients and resolving domain names into IP addresses. It can be provided by an ISP or a third-party DNS service.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_About_Name_Servers\"><\/span>FAQs About Name Servers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Q_Can_I_have_multiple_name_servers_for_my_domain\"><\/span>Q: Can I have multiple name servers for my domain?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">A: Yes, it is common to have multiple name servers for redundancy and load balancing purposes. The most common setup is to have at least two name servers, often provided by different companies or located in different geographic locations.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Q_What_does_it_mean_if_my_name_servers_are_%E2%80%9Cunreachable%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Q: What does it mean if my name servers are &#8220;unreachable&#8221;?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">A: If your name servers are unreachable, it means that they are not responding to DNS queries. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as network issues, server <a href=\"https:\/\/hostadvice.com\/blog\/server\/what-is-downtime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">downtime<\/a>, or misconfigured DNS settings.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Q_Can_I_host_my_own_name_servers\"><\/span>Q: Can I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">host<\/a> my own name servers?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">A: Yes, it is possible to run your own name servers, but it requires knowledge of DNS and server management. Most individuals and small businesses opt to use the name servers provided by their <a href=\"https:\/\/hostadvice.com\/hosting-company\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">web hosting provider<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.a2hosting.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain registrar<\/a> for simplicity and reliability.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Q_How_long_does_it_take_for_name_server_changes_to_propagate\"><\/span>Q: How long does it take for name server changes to propagate?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">A: Name server changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate across the internet. This process is known as <a href=\"https:\/\/hostadvice.com\/blog\/domains\/what-is-dns-propagation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dns propagation<\/a> and varies depending on factors such as the TTL (time to live) set for the DNS records and the <a href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/understanding-website-caching-and-website-performance-optimization\/\">caching<\/a> behavior of ISPs.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Q_Can_I_change_my_name_servers\"><\/span>Q: Can I change my name servers?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">A: Yes, domain owners have the ability to change the name servers associated with their domain. This is often done through the <a href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/domain-registrar-and-web-hosting\/\">Domain Registrar<\/a>&#8216;s <a href=\"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/how-to-use-cpanel-or-other-control-panel\/\">control panel<\/a> or dashboard.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In Summary, Name servers are a fundamental part of the internet&#8217;s infrastructure, playing a crucial role in translating domain names into IP addresses and ensuring that users are directed to the correct servers when accessing websites. Understanding how name servers work and their importance can be beneficial for anyone with a presence on the internet, whether they are a website owner, a developer, or a casual internet user.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Overall, name servers are essential components of the internet that facilitate the smooth translation of domain names to IP addresses, ensuring seamless access to websites. Without name servers, the internet would be a far more complex and less user-friendly place. It is crucial for anyone managing a website or online presence to have a basic understanding of how name servers work and their significance in maintaining the functionality of the World Wide Web.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is name server? Name servers are a crucial component of the domain name System (DNS), which is responsible for translating human-readable&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27892,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[7851,474],"class_list":["post-19066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-domains","tag-name-server","tag-title"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19066"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43897,"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066\/revisions\/43897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infinitydomainhosting.com\/kb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}