---
title: "Edge DNS"
description: "Overview of Edge DNS: free anycast DNS with instant propagation, geographic routing, ALIAS records, and support for A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, CAA and more."
url: "https://edge.network/docs/dns"
section: "DNS"
---

# Edge DNS

Enterprise-grade authoritative DNS with global anycast distribution, instant propagation, and advanced features like geographic routing and ALIAS records.

## Key features

- **Global anycast network:** DNS queries are automatically routed to the nearest point of presence for ultra-low-latency resolution worldwide.
- **Instant propagation:** changes propagate to all edge nodes within seconds. No more waiting for TTL expiration or delayed updates.
- **DDoS protection:** built-in protection against DNS amplification attacks and query floods, with automatic rate limiting and filtering.
- **Geographic routing:** route traffic to different endpoints based on the geographic location of the DNS resolver for the best user experience.

## Architecture

Edge DNS uses a master/slave architecture for reliability and performance:

- **Master server:** handles zone management, record updates and API requests. Pushes changes to all slave nodes in real time via NATS messaging.
- **Slave nodes:** distributed globally via anycast. They handle all DNS queries from a local zone cache and report query metrics back to the master for analytics.

## Supported record types

| Type | Description | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| `A` | IPv4 address | Point a domain to a server IP |
| `AAAA` | IPv6 address | IPv6 connectivity |
| `CNAME` | Canonical name | Alias one domain to another |
| `ALIAS` | Apex CNAME alternative | Point the root domain to another hostname |
| `MX` | Mail exchange | Email routing |
| `TXT` | Text record | SPF, DKIM, domain verification |
| `NS` | Name server | Delegate subdomains |
| `CAA` | Certification Authority Authorization | Control which CAs can issue certificates |
| `SRV` | Service record | Service discovery (SIP, XMPP, etc.) |
| `PTR` | Pointer record | Reverse DNS lookups |

## Metrics and data retention

Query metrics are collected and aggregated at multiple granularities:

| Granularity | Retention |
|---|---|
| Minute-level data | 24 hours |
| Hourly aggregates | 7 days |
| Daily aggregates | 90 days |

## In this section

- [Add your first domain](/docs/dns/getting-started) — Step-by-step guide to adding a domain to Edge DNS: create a zone, point your registrar at your unique nameservers, verify ownership, and add DNS records.
- [DNS zones](/docs/dns/zones) — How DNS zones work in Edge DNS: create and verify a zone, understand pending, active and suspended states, SOA and TTL settings, and manage zones via the API.
- [DNS records](/docs/dns/records) — Reference for DNS record types in Edge DNS: A, AAAA, CNAME, ALIAS, MX, TXT, CAA and SRV, with examples and best practices for TTLs and email authentication.
- [Nameservers and domain verification](/docs/dns/nameservers) — How Edge DNS assigns each account a unique nameserver pair to verify domain ownership, prevent hijacking, and activate zones instantly after NS checks.
- [Geographic routing](/docs/dns/geo-routing) — Geographic DNS routing in Edge DNS: per-record geo overrides by continent, country or sub-region, resolution priority, and EDNS Client Subnet support.
- [Zone Editor](/docs/dns/zone-editor) — Edit an entire DNS zone as JSON in Edge DNS: the zone file format, examples for every record type, bulk changes, and complex geo routing configurations.
- [Metrics and analytics](/docs/dns/metrics) — Monitor DNS query volume, latency, response codes and geographic distribution across your Edge DNS zones, in the console or via the API.
- [DNS backups](/docs/dns/backups) — Automated daily backups of your Edge DNS zones for $1/month per zone, with manual snapshots, JSON download and one-click restore via console or API.
- [DNS Examiner](/docs/dns/examiner) — AI-powered DNS zone analysis in Edge DNS. Check email deliverability, security, nameserver delegation and best practices, with a health score and fixes.
- [Test domains](/docs/dns/test-domains) — Get a subdomain of test.network for $1/month. Perfect for development, staging and testing, with a fully managed DNS zone that you control.
- [ed.ge domains](/docs/dns/edge-domains) — Get the shortest premium edge domain, you.ed.ge, for $5/month. Perfect for personal brands, APIs, short links and portfolio sites, with full DNS control.