Have you ever wondered why your domain is not online, still error 505 bad gateway. Yup I understand that it happens after making changes to the DNS configuration on your server. Actually the simple way is to simply clear your browser data & cache, or in other words factory reset your browser, but that is a bad way for users who are used to working with browsers and have their own preferences with the browser, for example developers.
This time I will share my experience when I helped the web developer division to refresh DNS records stored on MAC, Windows or Chrome devices during injury time approaching work hours.
DNS tells the browser where the website is located, so it is no surprise that your browser stores in its cache all the DNS information of the websites you have ever visited, this is done to improve surfing performance.
What is DNS Cache?
DNS Cache is like an address book on a computer, its name is Domain Name Server, it represents the name of a website address, this DNS covers an IP address, as you know IP addresses consist of numbers that are not easy to remember, and are clearly not interesting, besides wrapping IP, DNS can also be used as a business tool for branding, so that it will look interesting and easy for the human head to remember.
How DNS Works
DNS information may not be updated quickly on your computer, and you may end up visiting old websites or seeing not found errors. It will update eventually, but why wait when you can clear the DNS cache right away.
How to Clear DNS Cache in Windows
If you are using a windows computer, here is how to clear the DNS cache on your device.
First, you need to click on the start button and select the CMD (command prompt) tool.
This will launch a command prompt window. In it you need to enter the following text:
ipconfig /flushdns
Click on the enter key to run the command and Windows will flush the DNS cache. That's it, you can now continue visiting your websites to fetch the updated DNS information.
How to Clear DNS Cache on macOS
If you are using a Mac computer, follow the steps below to clear your DNS cache.
First, you need to launch the Terminal application. You can find it in Launchpad under the 'Other' folder. You can also launch it by opening Finder and going to the Applications»Utilities folder .
This will launch a terminal window where you need to enter the following command.
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
You will be prompted to enter your macOS account password. This is the same password you use to log into your computer.
After that, your computer will clear the DNS cache. Now you can visit the website to get the latest DNS information.
How to Clear DNS Cache in Chrome
When you move your WordPress site to a host or transfer your domain registration to a new domain registrar, you'll need to change your DNS settings and point them to the new location.
Once you apply these changes to your domain settings, it may take some time for the changes to be reflected across the internet. This can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
During this time, your domain will sometimes point to the old location, and sometimes point to the new location. This depends on your geographic location and which DNS servers your browser requests.
You can check how these DNS changes are propagated around the world using online tools such as DNS Checker .
Simply enter your domain name, and it will fetch DNS from various geographic locations spread across the globe.
If all locations show the same IP address with a green check mark, this means the DNS changes you made are now updated across the internet.
What is the Difference Between DNS Cache and Browser Cache?
Now, keep in mind that DNS cache is different from browser cache.
Your browser stores a lot of website data in a temporary cache to load pages quickly on repeat visits. This contains the actual content of the website you are visiting, while the DNS cache contains the IP address where the site is located.
If you're having trouble viewing a page you've updated but can't see the changes, you may want to clear your browser cache.