To make viewing the web faster for the users, ISPs cache all of their DNS records. The slow updating of the server cache is called propagation. In this particular process, the ISPs read and present websites from their local files instead of presenting them over the Internet every time a user wants to view a website. This works similar to how a browser on your PC caches website content to enhance the browsing speed.

Propagation gives a boost to the web surfing speed by accelerating the return time taken for a web browser to appeal a domain look-up for getting a result. This dramatically reduces the amount of web traffic giving them the ability to work faster. This kind of delay in processing is called DNS Propagation. This process has to be completed for your website to be available on the internet.

Propagation usually occurs between the systems of an Internet Service Providers (ISP). Due to propagation, not all your visitors will be sent to your new servers on your new hosting account; some might be directed to your old server until the process of propagation is complete. How responsively your visitors are directed to the new server will depend on the visitor’s geographical location, Internet service provider and a little bit of luck. Ultimately, propagation — and the amount of time it takes – cannot really be controlled.

Why Does The Process Take So Long?

The reason why the process takes so long for the new domain website to be accessible to everyone after its launch, is that each ISP automatically updates and caches DNS records on regular intervals. Until their cache is reset, it won’t put up your launched website. There is no standard process to be followed, and the propagation time can be anywhere between a couple of hours to even 72 hours.

Can You Speed The Process Up?

In order to boost the internet speed, the Internet Server Provider (ISP) their DNS records. The ISPs create a local copy of the content, and use it to look up the website every time a user tries to access it. This procedure speeds up internet activity, thereby reducing the traffic and helping the ISPs act faster.

The ISPs cache the DNS records and update them on regular intervals. Every ISP has their individual timeframe in order to update the cache DNS record. This delay can prevent you from viewing the actual website and hence is known as DNS propagation. The DNS information for your domain gets proliferated across all servers on the web, after the completion of this process, the new site will be available to every user on the internet.