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

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

Technology 2026-05-22

How the Domain Name System Works

The Domain Name System (DNS) is often described as the phonebook of the internet. It translates human-friendly domain names (like google.com) into machine-readable IP addresses (like 142.250.190.46). When you register a domain, you configure DNS records to route web traffic, emails, and verify services.

Common DNS Record Types

  • A Record: Maps a domain name directly to an IPv4 address. Used to point your website to your web hosting server.
  • CNAME (Canonical Name): Points a domain alias to another domain name. Commonly used for subdomains like mapping www.domain.com to domain.com.
  • MX Records: Mail Exchanger records direct email traffic to your email hosting server (like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365).
  • TXT Records: Stores text notes on the domain. Primarily used for ownership verification (e.g. Google Search Console) and email security records like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.