What the fields in an SOA record mean

Zone metadata provides context, not a real-time health report.

Read the zone metadata

SOA normally includes a primary server name, a responsible contact name, a serial number and timing parameters. The contact field is represented in DNS name form, so the whole text should not simply be treated as an ordinary email address.

Serial numbers and timers

The serial supports zone version management, while refresh, retry and expire relate to zone maintenance. Providers use different serial number conventions. Do not assume every serial encodes a calendar date.

Use it for review, not a score

An SOA answer helps explain zone metadata. It does not prove that every service record is correct or that a website is running. This tool displays the text without inventing a health score from those numbers.

This guide explains public DNS responses. Before changing production settings, check the documentation for your current domain and hosting providers.