DNS (domain name system)

When someone types your domain, DNS tells their browser which server to go to, and tells other mail servers where to deliver your email. It's controlled by DNS records held by your nameservers.

The main records are an A record for your website, a CNAME record for aliases such as www, an MX record for email, and TXT records for email security and verification.

Example: you move yourbusiness.com to a new host. The new site is copied and tested first, then the A record is changed to the new server's address. As cached copies expire, visitors start arriving at the new host. Your email keeps working as long as the MX records still point at your email provider.

What it means for your price: DNS itself is usually free with your domain or hosting. The real cost is getting it wrong: a missed email record during a move can mean lost messages. It's one reason a managed move is worth having.

How to check yours: a free online DNS lookup shows your current records. Save a copy before you change host or nameservers.