The Domain Name System (DNS)

What is The Domain Name System (DNS)?

DNS (the Domain Name System) is the system that translates human-friendly domain names, such as mid.as, into the numerical IP addresses that computers use.

DNS is often described as the "phone book of the internet". When you type a website address into your web browser, DNS is what looks up the corresponding IP address so your request can be routed to the correct server.

What are DNS records?

A domain's DNS settings are made up of individual "records", each serving a different purpose. Common record types include:

• A record: Points a domain to an IPv4 address.
• AAAA record: Points a domain to an IPv6 address.
• CNAME record: Points one domain name to another.
• MX record: Specifies the mail servers that handle email for the domain.
• TXT record: Holds free-form text, often used for verification and email authentication.

How does DNS relate to email?

Several email authentication standards rely on DNS TXT records. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are all published as TXT records in a domain's DNS, telling receiving mail servers which servers may send email for that domain and how to handle messages that fail authentication.

DNS and MIDAS

When configuring a MIDAS booking system to send email from your own domain, you will typically add or update DNS records such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authorize MIDAS and maximize email deliverability.