Are you wondering how to configure a Domain Name System (DNS) for your WordPress site but don’t know how to get started?

DNS is like a phonebook for the internet, as it helps to locate your website. However, setting up WordPress DNS can be overwhelming for many website owners.

In this ultimate guide, we will show WordPress DNS configuration for beginners.

Here is a quick overview of what we will cover in the guide. You can click the links below to jump ahead to any section:

What is WordPress DNS?

DNS or Domain Name System lets you connect to websites by translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses.

When you enter a website URL (like wpbeginner.com) in your browser, DNS translates it into a unique ID of the server where the site is stored (like an IP address 192.124.249.166) and helps point your device in the right direction.

A domain name and its matching IP address are called DNS records.

When running a WordPress website, it’s important to understand how these records work and properly configure DNS.

Let’s look at how DNS works and what goes on in the background when you visit a website.

How Does DNS Work?

You can think of DNS as a phone directory for the internet where you’ll find directions to all the websites.

You can easily understand how DNS works by following these steps:

  • Let’s say you type www.wpbeginner.com in your browser and hit the Enter button. Immediately, a quick search will take place to see if you’ve visited the site previously. If there is a DNS record found in your computer’s DNS cache, then you’ll be taken to the site directly.
  • If there is no DNS record, then a query is sent to the DNS server. This is usually your internet service provider’s server or the domain host’s resolving nameserver.
  • If the record is not cached on the resolving nameserver, then they’re forwarded to the ‘root nameservers.’ These are servers around the worl…
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