Zone File
A DNS text file hosted on name servers mapping domain names to IP addresses, ensuring accurate website traffic direction, resolution, and accessibility.
A zone file is a text-based configuration file stored on DNS name servers that contains all the DNS records for a specific domain, mapping domain names to IP addresses and defining how internet traffic should be directed. It includes various record types such as A records (pointing domains to IPv4 addresses), AAAA records (for IPv6), MX records (for email routing), CNAME records (for aliases), and TXT records (for verification and security). When you update your domain's DNS settings through your hosting control panel, you're essentially modifying the zone file. These files follow a standardised format defined by internet protocols, ensuring consistency across different DNS servers worldwide. Zone files are critical for making your website accessible because they tell the internet where to find your hosting server when someone types your domain name. Understanding zone files helps when troubleshooting DNS issues, migrating between hosting providers, or configuring advanced DNS setups like load balancing or failover systems.
