DNS Propagation

Noun · Development

Definitions

  1. The time it takes for DNS changes to spread across all recursive resolvers worldwide. Controlled by the TTL (Time to Live) of the record -- resolvers cache records until TTL expires. A record with TTL 3600 may take up to 1 hour to propagate. Lower the TTL before planned changes, then raise it after.

    In plain English: The delay between making a DNS change and all internet users seeing the new setting, controlled by the cache timeout.

    Example: "Lower the TTL to 60 seconds 24 hours before the migration -- during the cutover, DNS changes will propagate in under a minute."

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