DNS records explained

DNS (the Domain Name System) is the internet's phone book. People remember names like example.com; computers connect to numeric IP addresses. DNS matches one to the other.

Nameservers

Every domain has nameservers: the servers that hold its DNS records and answer questions about it. Usually they belong to the company where you registered the domain, so that's where you add or change records. If you've moved your nameservers to another service (for example Cloudflare), manage your records there instead.

You don't need to change your nameservers to use GUDHOST. Keep them where they are and add the records shown under Websites in your GUDHOST account.

Common record types

• A: points a name to an IPv4 address. Your website uses two: one for @ (the domain itself) and one for www, both pointing to the IP address shown in your GUDHOST account.
• AAAA: the same as an A record, for IPv6 addresses. If old AAAA records for @ or www point to a previous host, delete them, or some visitors will still reach the old site.
• CNAME: points a name to another name instead of an IP address. It can only be used on a subdomain such as shop.example.com, never on the domain itself. A name with a CNAME can't have other records, so remove an old www CNAME before adding the www A record.
• MX: tells other mail servers where to deliver email for your domain. These come from your email provider (such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365) and have nothing to do with your website.
• TXT: text that proves to other services that you own the domain (for example Google Search Console), or says who may send email for it (SPF and DKIM).
• SRV: points specific services, such as calling or chat apps, to a server and port. You'll only need these if a service you use asks for them.

A few tips

• Change only the records you need. Deleting MX or TXT records you don't recognise can break your email or other services.
• @ means the domain itself; some registrars leave the name blank instead.
• After a change, allow time for it to spread across the internet: usually a few hours, up to 72 hours.