What is DNS?

How a DNS lookup works

1. A visitor types yourbusiness.com.ng.
2. Their device asks a DNS resolver (usually run by their internet provider) for the address.
3. The resolver asks the .ng registry which nameservers hold your domain’s records.
4. Your nameservers answer with the IP address in your A record.
5. The browser connects to that server and loads your website.

This takes a fraction of a second, and answers are cached so the next visit is even faster.

Common DNS records

Record	What it does	Example
A	Points a name to an IPv4 address	yourbusiness.com.ng → 192.0.2.24
AAAA	Points a name to an IPv6 address
CNAME	Points a name to another name	www → yourbusiness.com.ng
MX	Where email for the domain is delivered	mail.yourbusiness.com.ng
TXT	Text for verification and email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)	v=spf1 …
NS	Which nameservers hold the domain’s records

When you need to touch DNS

• Connecting a domain to hosting: change the nameservers or the A record. See point a domain to hosting.
• Setting up email: MX records, plus SPF, DKIM and DMARC TXT records so your mail isn’t marked as spam.
• Verifying a service: Google Search Console, Microsoft 365 and others ask you to add a TXT record.
• Adding a subdomain: an A or CNAME record for shop.yourbusiness.com.ng.

Where you edit DNS

Wherever your nameservers point. If your domain uses Hostnali hosting nameservers, edit records in cPanel’s Zone Editor. If it uses our domain nameservers, edit them in the client area under your domain’s DNS management.

Changes aren’t instant

Because answers are cached, changes take time to reach everyone: usually minutes to a few hours, up to 48 hours. Read DNS propagation.

Tips

• Note your existing records before changing nameservers, especially MX records, or email can stop.
• Don’t delete records you don’t recognise without asking; some are used by email or verification.
• Our team can set up DNS for you: open a ticket or start a live chat.