DNS Record Types: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT and NS

Quick answer: DNS records tell resolvers how names and services should be handled. A and AAAA records point names to IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, while other record types handle aliases, email, verification and delegation.

The records you will see most often

A maps a name to IPv4. AAAA maps a name to IPv6. CNAME creates an alias. MX identifies mail servers. TXT stores text used for verification and email-security policies. NS identifies authoritative name servers.

Check records instead of guessing

DNS can be confusing when one record is correct but another is missing. Use the DNS Lookup tool to inspect the records returned for a domain.