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What is the primary function of NS records?

  1. Map domain names to IP addresses

  2. Identify the location of a domain's mail server

  3. List the name servers for a domain

  4. Store the public keys in DNS

The correct answer is: List the name servers for a domain

The primary function of NS records, or Name Server records, is to list the name servers associated with a particular domain. These records provide crucial information about which servers are authoritative for a specific zone, facilitating the domain resolution process. When a query is made for a domain, the NS records indicate which name servers should be consulted to retrieve DNS information for that domain. This function is essential for the hierarchical structure of the Domain Name System (DNS), enabling efficient management and updates of DNS records as necessary. The NS records are what allow the DNS system to delegate authority and distribute the responsibility of domain name resolution across various servers, promoting redundancy and reliability in the system. Other options relate to different DNS record types; for instance, mapping domain names to IP addresses is done through A and AAAA records, while mail server locations are identified by MX records. Storing public keys is the role of DNSKEY records, and these all serve specific functions that differ from the task performed by NS records.