DNS records are stored in a database that maps domain names to IP addresses, indicate mail servers, or TXT records that store information. For instance, in order to add a domain to a service like Proton Mail, verification of domain ownership is necessary. This is done by adding a TXT record to the DNS records of a domain that serves as a domain verification record.

ENS is forward compatible with DNS. What this means is that the current DNS model can be extended forward into the blockchain by bridging DNS domains into the ENS protocol. Importing a DNS domain to be used within the blockchain via the ENS protocol does not transfer the registration or ownership of the domain.

DNS translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing people to use familiar and easily remembered domain names instead of difficult to recall IP addresses. For example, instead of typing 142.250.64.142 into a web browser, one can simply type in google.com, and DNS will direct the user to the same location as the IP address.

The Ethereum Naming Service or ENS is a naming protocol that maps human-readable names to blockchain addresses such as Ethereum wallet addresses, other cryptocurrency addreseses like Bitcoin, MATIC, BNB and hundreds of other cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, IPFS/Arweave/Onion decentralized content locations and more.

ENS records are managed by interacting with the blockchain. In order to make changes to your ENS-enabled DNS domain’s ENS records, you must authorize the transaction with your Ethereum wallet. ENS records associated with your domain are most easily managed through the ENS Manager App.

In this example, we will learn how to use the exact same IPFS location to host static website content for both a DNS name, and an ENS name. This negates the need for hosting files on a traditional web server or cloud infrastructure. In this scenario, an ENS .eth name can point its content record to the same exact IPFS location where the DNS domain retrieves IPFS content using DNSLink.

One common question is how users can host a website on the blockchain. There are a variety of ways websites can be hosted using the blockchain.

The following guides will help you setup and understand using your DNS domain within the ENS protocol.

Other guides found on this site rely on using Cloudflare as the DNS host provider. Cloudflare offers a free-tier level of DNS Hosting that also comes with an optional IPFS gateway solution. The IPFS gateway feature is used in the Host in Parallel DNS and ENS content from IPFS and Query Blockchain Content through DNS Records guides.

There are a number of traditional web2 infrastructure companies and services who have extended themselves into the blockchain ecosystem. Cloudflare is widely known for its content distribution network (CDN). They also provide DNS services and IPFS Gateway solutions. You can view their Cloudflare Web3 docs for more information.