What Is an NS Record (Nameserver Record)?
An NS record is a DNS record that specifies which nameservers are authoritative for a domain. It delegates DNS resolution to the servers that hold the domain's DNS zone file.
How NS Records Work
NS records exist at two levels. At the registrar level (the parent zone), NS records tell the DNS hierarchy which nameservers are authoritative for your domain. At the zone level, NS records within your DNS zone confirm the delegation. When a DNS resolver queries your domain, the parent zone's NS records direct it to your authoritative nameservers, which then answer with the actual DNS records ( A, MX, TXT, etc.).
NS records can also be used to delegate subdomains to different nameservers. For example, you could delegate blog.example.com to a different DNS provider than your main domain.
Why NS Records Matter
NS records are the foundation of DNS delegation. If your NS records are incorrect or point to unreachable nameservers, your entire domain stops working — no website, no email, no services. Having multiple NS records on geographically diverse servers ensures redundancy and high availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NS records should a domain have?
At least two, for redundancy. Most domains have two to four NS records pointing to different nameservers. If one goes down, the others continue answering queries.
What happens if NS records are misconfigured?
Your entire domain can become unreachable. Website, email, and all DNS-dependent services will fail. NS misconfigurations are one of the most impactful DNS errors.
Can I change my domain's nameservers?
Yes. You can change NS records at your domain registrar to point to a different DNS provider. Changes typically propagate within 24-48 hours based on the parent zone's TTL.