Domain DNS zone propagation is the process of updating information about a domain name on the internet.
When changes are made to a domain’s DNS records, such as pointing your domain via nameservers or adding MX records for email, propagation is triggered. These changes are then communicated to the network of DNS servers worldwide, ensuring they are updated with the latest information.
The propagation process is fully automatic and can take up to 24 hours. This delay occurs because it takes time for the changes to propagate to all the existing DNS servers globally.
The duration can also vary based on the type of DNS record. For instance:
- Changes to NS (nameservers) or A records (which map a domain name to an IP address) may propagate in less than 24 hours.
- Some records can propagate even faster.
- In rare cases, a specific record might take up to 72 hours to fully propagate.