What Is a DNS Record?
a DNS Record — an entry in the DNS system that maps a name to information — most commonly an IP address (A record), but also mail servers (MX), aliases (CNAME) and more.
How it works
DNS records live in a domain's zone file, each with a type defining what it does: A (name → IPv4), AAAA (name → IPv6), CNAME (alias to another name), MX (mail server), TXT (arbitrary text, used for verification/SPF), NS (nameservers), PTR (reverse: IP → name). Each has a TTL controlling how long it may be cached.
Why it matters
DNS records are how the internet finds everything — when you configure a website, email or service, you're creating DNS records. Understanding record types is practical knowledge for anyone managing domains or troubleshooting name resolution. See how DNS works.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DNS record?
An entry mapping a name to information — most often an IP address (A record), but also mail servers (MX), aliases (CNAME), text (TXT) and others.
What are the common DNS record types?
A (IPv4), AAAA (IPv6), CNAME (alias), MX (mail), TXT (text/verification), NS (nameservers) and PTR (reverse lookup).
What is a DNS record's TTL?
Time-to-live — how long resolvers may cache the record before re-checking, set by the domain owner (commonly minutes to hours).
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