DNS Record Types Reference
What every common DNS record type actually does — A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, SRV, CAA, PTR and the DNSSEC records — each with a plain-English description and a real example. Filter to find the one you need.
| Type | Name | What it does | Example |
|---|
The Domain Name System is the internet's directory, and DNS records are the individual entries inside it. Each record has a type that says what kind of information it carries — an IPv4 address, a mail server, a block of text, a service location and so on. When you visit a website, send an email or verify a domain, you are relying on one or more of these record types working behind the scenes.
The two you will meet most are the address records: an A record points a name at an IPv4 address, and an AAAA record points it at an IPv6 address. CNAME records create aliases from one name to another, MX records route email, and NS records delegate a zone to its authoritative name servers. Every zone also has exactly one SOA record holding its administrative metadata.
Although a TXT record is just free text, it powers most of email security. SPF (starting v=spf1), DKIM signing keys and DMARC policies (published at _dmarc.yourdomain.com) all live in TXT records — as do the verification strings that prove you own a domain to third-party services.
Other record types handle more specialised jobs. SRV records advertise the host and port of a service (used by SIP, XMPP and Microsoft services). CAA records restrict which certificate authorities may issue TLS certificates for your domain. PTR records provide reverse DNS, mapping an IP back to a hostname. And the DNSSEC family — DNSKEY and DS — cryptographically signs a zone so resolvers can detect tampering.
New to all this? Start with What is DNS? to see how names turn into addresses. When you want to inspect a real domain's records, use our DNS Lookup tool, or check mail routing with the MX Record Lookup.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an A record and a CNAME?
An A record maps a hostname directly to an IPv4 address. A CNAME maps one hostname to another hostname (an alias), and the resolver then looks up that target's own records. You cannot put a CNAME at the zone apex alongside other records, which is why many providers offer ALIAS/ANAME as a workaround.
What are TXT records used for?
TXT records hold arbitrary text attached to a domain. They are widely used for email authentication — SPF (v=spf1 …), DKIM keys and DMARC policies at _dmarc — and for domain-ownership verification by services like Google and Microsoft.
What does an MX record do?
An MX (Mail Exchange) record lists the mail servers that accept email for a domain, each with a priority number. Lower numbers are tried first; equal numbers share load. Without a valid MX record, other mail servers do not know where to deliver a domain's email.
What is a CAA record?
A CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) record specifies which certificate authorities may issue TLS/SSL certificates for a domain. It is a safeguard against unauthorised certificate issuance — CAs are required to honour it before issuing.
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