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DNS Record Types Explained

DNS has different record types for different purposes. Here is a list of the common ones, what they mean and when to use them.

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Main records

A
The IPv4 address for a hostname. Used to say where a website is served from.
AAAA
The IPv6 address for a hostname.
CNAME
An alias to another hostname. Used, for example, to point www at the main name. It cannot coexist with other records such as MX or TXT on the same name.
MX
Where mail is delivered. A lower number means higher priority. → How to check MX records
NS
The name servers that manage the domain’s DNS.
TXT
Text information. Used for SPF, domain ownership verification, DKIM and DMARC. → How to look up an SPF record
SOA
Zone management information. It holds the serial number, refresh intervals and caching guidance.
PTR
The reverse lookup that finds a hostname from an IP address. → How to do a reverse lookup
CAA
Specifies which certificate authorities may issue SSL certificates.
SRV
Announces where a service is (host and port). Used by some chat and VoIP services.
HTTPS / SVCB
Newer records that announce how to connect to a website (such as HTTP/3 support).
DS / DNSKEY
Key information for DNSSEC (protection against tampering with DNS).

A rough guide to choosing

If you prefer the command line, see how to use the dig command.

FAQ

How do I choose between an A record and a CNAME?

Use A to specify an IP address directly, and CNAME when you want a name to go to the same place as another hostname. A CNAME cannot be placed on the root domain (example.com).

What is a record’s TTL?

It is the number of seconds a DNS server remembers that value. A short TTL makes changes take effect sooner, and a long one means fewer queries to DNS.

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Last updated: 2026-10-21