What is the Difference Between DNS and DDNS?

The main difference between DNS and DDNS lies in the type of IP addresses they use and the frequency of updates. Here's a comparison of the two:

DNS (Domain Name System):

• Uses static IP addresses.
• Requires manual updates.
• Records are updated relatively infrequently.
• Commonly used for websites, email, and other online services.

DDNS (Dynamic DNS):

• Uses dynamic IP addresses.
• Automatically updates records.
• Updates occur more frequently.
• Often used for devices that change IP addresses frequently, such as home routers, security cameras, and VPNs.

In DNS, records are updated manually by the owner of the DNS record if its infrastructure changes, which is relatively infrequent. On the other hand, DDNS automatically checks for updated IPs for websites, servers, or apps, and updates the records accordingly. This automatic updates feature in DDNS can provide numerous benefits, such as cost-effectiveness, especially for businesses that require many IPs.

From a DNS client perspective, the two services are largely identical, as both translate domain names into numerical IP addresses that devices can read. However, the differences in IP address type and update frequency make DNS and DDNS suitable for different use cases and applications.

Comparative Table: DNS vs DDNS

Here is a table summarizing the differences between DNS and DDNS:

In summary, DNS is a hierarchical, distributed method of mapping domain names to IP addresses and vice versa, while DDNS is a method of automatically updating the server name list found within a Domain Name System to accommodate changes in IP addresses.