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Networking Beginner

What is DNS Propagation?

The time it takes for DNS record changes to spread across all DNS servers worldwide, typically taking up to 48 hours.

When DNS records are updated, the changes must propagate through the global DNS system. Each DNS server caches records for the duration of their TTL (Time To Live). Until the old cached records expire, some users may see old values.

Propagation time depends on the TTL value — lower TTL means faster propagation but more DNS queries. Before making critical changes, reduce TTL in advance. Tools like whatsmydns.org check propagation status globally.

Related Terms

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
The routing protocol that makes the internet work by exchanging routing information between autonomous systems.
HTTP/HTTPS
The protocol used for transferring web pages and data between browsers and servers, with HTTPS adding encryption.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A geographically distributed network of servers that caches and delivers web content from locations closest to users for faster load times.
SDN (Software-Defined Networking)
An approach that separates the network control plane from the data plane, enabling centralized, programmable network management.
Token Bucket Algorithm
A rate limiting algorithm that allows burst traffic by accumulating tokens at a fixed rate and consuming them per request.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A technology that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, securing internet traffic.
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