DNS and nameservers: a practical guide
Updated: 2026-07-18 · YaDominios
Nameservers say who manages your domain's DNS, and DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) say where each thing goes: the website, the email, and verifications. At YaDominios, DNS is free and you can point your domain wherever you want in minutes.
The records you'll use 99% of the time
| Record | What it's for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Points a name to an IP (your website) | yourcompany.com → 203.0.113.10 |
| CNAME | Points a name to another name | www → yourcompany.com |
| MX | Where your email is delivered | yourcompany.com → mail.provider.com |
| TXT | Verifications and anti-spam (SPF, DKIM) | "v=spf1 include:…" |
Nameservers or records? The key difference
Nameservers define which company manages your entire DNS zone (for example Cloudflare's or ours). Records are the lines inside that zone. Changing nameservers moves ALL control; changing a record moves only that piece.
Pointing your domain, by case
- To a host with an IP: create an A record to that IP (and a CNAME for www to the root domain).
- To Cloudflare: change the nameservers to the ones Cloudflare assigns you; from there you manage records in its panel, with its free shield and CDN.
- To our managed hosting: you do nothing — we set it up for you.
Propagation (and patience)
DNS changes take time to show worldwide: from minutes up to 24–48 hours in the worst case, depending on the configured TTL. If you just changed something and it “doesn't work,” wait a bit before touching it again.
Frequently asked questions
Does YaDominios DNS cost anything?
No. DNS management is included free with your domain, with no limit on reasonable records.
Can I use Cloudflare with a YaDominios domain?
Yes, and it's a great combo: change the nameservers to Cloudflare's from your dashboard and get its free CDN, SSL, and protection.
How long does a DNS change take?
Usually minutes, but it can take up to 24–48 hours to fully propagate depending on the TTL and each provider's cache.