What Are Nameservers?

When you type a website address like jetdomains.online into your browser, a process happens in milliseconds behind the scenes. At the heart of this process are Nameservers.

If your domain name is your home address, and your web hosting is the physical house, nameservers act as the GPS coordinates that tell the internet exactly where to find you.

What Exactly is a Nameserver? (The Phonebook Analogy)

Computers communicate using numbers called IP addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1). We prefer names (e.g., yourbusiness.co.za).

A Nameserver acts like the internet’s phonebook. When someone types your domain into a browser, the nameserver looks up the name and tells the browser exactly which IP address to visit to load your site.

1. The Request: You type a URL into your browser.
2. The Query: Your computer asks the Domain Name System (DNS): “Where is this website located?”
3. The Nameserver: The DNS points to the specific Nameservers assigned to your domain.
4. The Destination: The nameservers look up the IP address of your web host and send that information back to your browser.

Why Do I Need to Change My Nameservers?

Most users only need to touch their nameserver settings in specific scenarios like:

1. You have a website builder

You want to point your domain to Wix, Shopify, or Squarespace.

2. You use external hosting

If you bought your domain name with us but want to host your website on a different server, you must update your nameservers to point to that host’s “Directional” servers (e.g., ns1.bluehost.com or ns1.digitalocean.com).

3. Setting Up a CDN

Services that speed up your site or provide security often require you to point your nameservers to them first so they can filter traffic before it reaches your server.

Our Default Nameservers

When you register a domain with us, we automatically assign high-speed, global nameservers to your account. This ensures your site is reachable instantly.

What is Propagation?

When you update your nameservers, the change isn’t instant worldwide. This period is called DNS Propagation.

Think of it like a change-of-address form at the post office. It takes time for every “digital post office” across the globe to update their records. This process usually takes 2 to 24 hours, though in rare cases, it can take up to 48.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I have more than two nameservers?

Yes. Most providers give you two, but some offer four for extra redundancy. If one server goes down, the others act as backups.

Will changing nameservers delete my website?

No. Changing nameservers only changes where the internet “looks” for your site. However, if your new host isn’t set up yet, your site will appear offline until the files are ready at the new destination.

What is the difference between DNS records and Nameservers?

Nameservers are the location of the folder containing your records. DNS records (like A, MX, and CNAME) are the specific instructions inside that folder (e.g., where to send email or where the website files live).