DNS Records Explained (A, CNAME, MX, TXT)

This article explains, in plain English, what DNS is and what the most common record types do. It'll help you understand which record to change when you need to.

What is DNS?

DNS, or the Domain Name System, is the internet's address book. People remember names like yourdomain.com, but computers connect using numeric addresses called IP addresses. DNS quietly translates the name you type into the address a computer needs, so your visitors reach the right place.

Each domain has a set of DNS records. Each record is an instruction that tells the internet where to send a particular kind of traffic, such as web visitors or email.

A record — points a name to an IP address

An A record links a name (like your domain) to a server's IP address. It's what tells the world which server holds your website.

You'd change an A record when you move your website to a new server, or when you point your domain at our hosting using an IP address.

CNAME record — an alias to another name

A CNAME record points one name to another name rather than to an IP address. Think of it as a nickname that follows wherever the real name goes. A common example is www, which is set up as an alias of your main domain.

You'd add a CNAME when a service asks you to point a subdomain (like shop.yourdomain.com) at one of their addresses.

MX record — your mail server

An MX record tells the internet which server should receive email for your domain. Without correct MX records, your email won't arrive.

You'd change MX records when you switch email providers, such as moving your mailboxes to a new service.

TXT record — verification and email security

A TXT record holds small pieces of text used by other systems. It's most often used to prove you own a domain and to protect your email from being spoofed. Common examples include SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, which help email providers trust messages sent from your domain.

You'd add a TXT record when a provider asks you to verify your domain, or when you're setting up email security.

Next steps

If you're not sure which record you need to change for what you're trying to do, open a support ticket from your account and we'll point you in the right direction.