Domains: About DNS Server Settings (nameservers) and Host Records (DNS zone files)

There are two types of DNS settings for a domain in our account:

DNS Server Settings: 

(also referred to as nameservers or just DNS many times) 

These settings contain the nameservers that respond to DNS queries, directing requests to the correct IP address by using DNS records. They manage and resolve domain names for accessing websites. They usually have the format of ns1.example.com, ns2.example.com.

HelpDesk article: How to Change Domain Nameservers (DNS)

Host Records: 

(also referred to as DNS zone files sometimes) 

A Host Record is a text file stored on a nameserver that contains mappings of domain names to IP addresses and other DNS settings. It includes DNS records like A (address) records, MX (mail exchange) records, CNAME (canonical name) records, URL Redirects, and text (TXT) records, detailing how a domain should be resolved.

Helpdesk article: View / Change Host Records

To differentiate between these two DNS settings for a domain:

DNS server settings (nameservers) handle DNS requests, while host records contain the actual data that tells the nameservers how to resolve those requests.

Wherever your DNS Server Settings are pointing to, that is where the Host Records will be managed.

For a certain domain in your account, if you are using our nameservers in the DNS Server Settings (dns1.name-services.com, dns2.name-services.com, etc.) then you will manage your host records in your account with us also.

For a certain domain in your account with us, if you are using outside nameservers in the DNS Server Settings (like ns1.example.com, ns2.example.com, etc.), then you will manage your domain's host records at example.com (or wherever the account is held that operates the ns1.example.com, ns2.example.com nameservers).