DNS · Website glossary

DNS propagation

Quick answer · What is DNS propagation?

An informal name for the period in which changed DNS data becomes visible through different servers and caches.

IN PRACTICE

DNS propagation: an example

A new website address appears through one resolver while another still serves its cached old address.

KEEP IN MIND

There is no single global progress meter; check authoritative data and specific cached answers separately.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of DNS propagation?

A new website address appears through one resolver while another still serves its cached old address.

How should I interpret DNS propagation progress?

There is no single global progress meter; check authoritative data and specific cached answers separately.

Which concepts should I read alongside DNS propagation?

DNS TTL: Time to live specifies how long a DNS answer may remain in a cache before it needs refreshing.
Authoritative nameserver: A nameserver that answers from the DNS zone data it is responsible for serving.