What Is a DNS SOA Record & What Is It Used For?

Updated: 08/29/2024 - 4:32

Time to read: 3 minutes

A start of authority (SOA) record includes administrative information about your zone, as defined by the domain name system (DNS).

Anytime you set up a new zone, you'll need a new SOA record. And any time you transfer one DNS zone to another, you'll need that record too.

Let's dig into details of what a DNS SOA record is, what it looks like, and how you can use it.

DNS SOA and the role of zones

Browsers and servers communicate via the DNS. Every time you tap a web address into your browser, an elaborate conversation happens that ultimately takes you to the proper destination. Zones play a huge role.

Within the DNS, a zone is a space in which administrative responsibility is delegated to one manager. A zone might include these things:

One domain name
One domain name and several subdomains
Multiple