How much does a domain name cost in the UK? (And who should own it)
What .co.uk, .uk and .com domain names cost in the UK, why renewals cost more than year one, premium domains, and how to make sure the domain is in your name.
Read →Glossary
What is DNS (domain name system)?
Also called: domain name system, DNS records, nameservers, A record, MX record.
Computers find each other using numbers, called IP addresses. DNS translates your easy-to-remember domain name into the right numbers, so typing your address loads your website and emails to you reach your inbox.
It works through a handful of records set at your registrar or DNS provider. An A record or CNAME points your website to your host. MX records point email to your email provider. TXT records prove ownership and help stop other people sending email pretending to be you.
Changes can take a while to spread around the world, sometimes minutes, occasionally longer, which is why a website move can briefly look different to different people.
Why it matters for your business
DNS is the bit that silently breaks things. A wrong change can take your website or email offline, and a missing email record can send your quotes to customers' spam folders. Whoever manages it should know exactly what each record is for.
Example. An electrician moves her website to a new host. The A record is updated to point at the new server, and the MX records are left alone so her email keeps working throughout.
Related terms
Co.uk or .com? Choosing a domain name for a UK business
How to choose and register a domain name for a UK small business: co.uk or .com, what makes a good name, and the renewal traps to avoid.
Read →How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT
How ChatGPT decides which businesses to name, what it reads when it searches the web, and the practical steps that make yours easier to recommend.
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