zone file

A file or database that holds all the DNS records (glossary)DNS record One entry in a DNS zone, made of a name, a type, a TTL and data. Full definition of DNS record for a zone, such as a domain or a whole TLD (glossary)TLD top-level domain The last part of a domain name, after the final dot. Full definition of TLD. A registry (glossary)registry The central database and system of a top-level domain, or loosely the organization that runs it. Full definition of registry's TLD zone file lists the name servers (glossary)name server A server that holds a domain's DNS records and answers lookups. Full definition of name server of every active domain in that TLD. Researchers often study zone files to count domains.