DNS Record Type Reference
Explore all DNS record types with descriptions, examples, and common use cases. Search and filter instantly.
10 records found
A
Description
Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address (32-bit).
Example
example.com. IN A 93.184.216.34
Common Use Case
Point your domain to a web server IP address.
AAAA
Description
Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address (128-bit).
Example
example.com. IN AAAA 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946
Common Use Case
Enable IPv6 connectivity for your domain.
CNAME
Description
Creates an alias from one domain to another (canonical name).
Example
www.example.com. IN CNAME example.com.
Common Use Case
Redirect www to non-www or point subdomains to services like Vercel/Netlify.
MX
Description
Specifies the mail server responsible for receiving email for a domain.
Example
example.com. IN MX 10 mail.example.com.
Common Use Case
Configure email delivery with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or a custom mail server.
TXT
Description
Holds arbitrary text data, often used for domain verification and email authentication.
Example
example.com. IN TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"
Common Use Case
Set up SPF, DKIM, DMARC for email security, or verify domain ownership with Google/Facebook.
NS
Description
Delegates a DNS zone to authoritative name servers.
Example
example.com. IN NS ns1.cloudflare.com.
Common Use Case
Delegate your domain DNS to a provider like Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, or your registrar.
SOA
Description
Start of Authority record containing administrative info about the DNS zone (serial, refresh, retry, expire, TTL).
Example
example.com. IN SOA ns1.example.com. admin.example.com. 2024010101 3600 900 604800 86400
Common Use Case
Automatically created for every DNS zone. Controls zone transfer timing and caching behavior.
PTR
Description
Reverse DNS record mapping an IP address back to a hostname.
Example
34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa. IN PTR example.com.
Common Use Case
Required for email servers to pass reverse DNS checks and reduce spam flagging.
SRV
Description
Service locator record specifying host, port, priority, and weight for a service.
Example
_sip._tcp.example.com. IN SRV 10 60 5060 sipserver.example.com.
Common Use Case
Configure VoIP (SIP), XMPP chat, LDAP, or Microsoft Teams/Skype for Business.
CAA
Description
Certificate Authority Authorization record specifying which CAs can issue SSL/TLS certificates for a domain.
Example
example.com. IN CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org"
Common Use Case
Restrict certificate issuance to specific CAs like Let's Encrypt or DigiCert for improved security.
How It Works
Browse the complete DNS record type reference including A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, PTR, SRV, and CAA. Each entry shows a description, real-world example, and common use case. Search and filter by type name or keyword. Copy examples to paste into your DNS provider dashboard.
When to Use It
- Domain setup — look up which record type to use when configuring a new domain with Cloudflare or Route 53.
- Email troubleshooting — understand MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to diagnose spam issues.
- SSL certificate issues — check CAA records to verify which CAs can issue certificates for your domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this tool query live DNS servers?
No. This is a reference guide with pre-loaded examples. For live DNS queries use dig, nslookup, or MXToolbox.
Which record types are most common?
A (IPv4), CNAME (aliases), MX (email routing), and TXT (SPF/DKIM) are the four you will configure most often.
What is the difference between A and CNAME?
An A record points to an IP address directly. A CNAME creates an alias pointing to another domain name. You cannot use CNAME at the zone apex.
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