DNS · Website glossary

Authoritative nameserver

Quick answer · What is Authoritative nameserver?

A nameserver that answers from the DNS zone data it is responsible for serving.

IN PRACTICE

Authoritative nameserver: an example

The authoritative server for example.com returns the zone's configured address records.

KEEP IN MIND

An authoritative answer can differ from a resolver's cached answer while earlier cache entries remain valid.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of Authoritative nameserver?

The authoritative server for example.com returns the zone's configured address records.

Why can an authoritative answer differ from a resolver's answer?

An authoritative answer can differ from a resolver's cached answer while earlier cache entries remain valid.

Which concepts should I read alongside Authoritative nameserver?

Recursive resolver: A DNS service that finds an answer for a client by querying other servers as needed and usually caching results.
DNS cache: A temporary store of DNS answers kept to avoid repeating the same lookup immediately.