What Nameservers means
Whoever controls your nameservers controls your DNS. You set them at your registrar, often pointing to your host or a DNS provider like a CDN. Changing nameservers moves all your records at once, so copy every record first or email can break.
Why it matters for your website
Your nameservers decide where all of your domain's DNS settings live, including website and email records. Changing them moves control of everything at once, so a careless switch can take down your site and inbox. Knowing who controls your nameservers is also key to keeping your domain secure.
A boutique gym signs up for a new website platform that asks it to switch nameservers. Before switching, its developer copies all the existing DNS records, including email and verification records, to the new provider.
Tips
- Write down or export all DNS records before changing nameservers.
- Keep the login for your DNS provider in a shared, secure password manager.
- Plan nameserver changes for a quiet time, since updates can take hours to spread.
Common mistakes
- Switching nameservers without recreating email, verification and subdomain records.
- Letting a former vendor keep sole control of the account that manages your nameservers.
