Understanding DNS Records

DNS (Domain Name System) is responsible for directing traffic for your domain name. Whenever someone visits your website, their device queries DNS to find out which server should handle the request. DNS records act as a mapping system that tells the internet how to route traffic for your domain.

Below is a breakdown of the most common DNS record types and what they are used for:

A Record

Maps your domain name to an IPv4 address (32-bit). This is the most commonly modified DNS record.

AAAA Record

Functions the same as an A record but maps to an IPv6 address (128-bit). Used when your server supports IPv6 networking.

CNAME Record

A Canonical Name record creates an alias of another domain. For example: www.example.com can point to example.com.

MX Record

Mail Exchange records direct email to the correct mail server for your domain. These must always point to a hostname, not an IP address.

PTR Record

A Pointer record is used for reverse DNS lookups. It maps an IP address back to a hostname and is commonly used for mail server verification.

NS Record

Name Server records define which DNS servers are authoritative for your domain. Most domains use two or more NS records for redundancy.