DNS Records

Individual record types explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, SRV, PTR, CAA, and more. Syntax, usage, and verification.

DNS records control where your traffic goes, how your email is delivered, and how services discover each other. Each record type serves a different purpose. These articles explain individual record types with syntax, examples, and verification steps.

For a comprehensive overview, see our The Complete DNS Guide for Website Owners.

DNS Record Types Explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA

A complete guide to DNS record types including A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, and SOA records. Learn when to use each type with real-world examples.

DNS Record Types: Complete Reference Guide

A complete reference guide covering all DNS record types including A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, SRV, PTR, CAA, and NAPTR with syntax, usage, and examples.

DNS AAAA Record Explained: IPv6 Addresses

What DNS AAAA records are, how they differ from A records, when you need them, how to create and verify AAAA records, and how dual-stack DNS works.

What Is a CNAME Record? When to Use One

What a DNS CNAME record is, how alias resolution works, when to use CNAMEs for CDNs and SaaS services, restrictions at the zone apex, and CNAME vs A record differences.

DNS NS Record Explained

What DNS NS records are, how they delegate authority for domains and subdomains, how to check them, and common NS record problems.

DNS SOA Record Explained

What SOA records contain, how to read each field, why they matter for zone transfers and secondary DNS, and how to check and configure SOA records.

DNS PTR Record: Reverse Lookups Explained

What DNS PTR records are, how reverse DNS lookups work, why they matter for email deliverability, and how to set up and verify PTR records.

DNS SRV Record Explained

What DNS SRV records are, how they work, their syntax and fields, and how services like VOIP, XMPP, and Microsoft 365 use them for service discovery.

Wildcard DNS Records: How They Work

How wildcard DNS records work, which record types support them, practical use cases, security risks, and when you should avoid using wildcards.

How to Check and Verify MX Records

Learn how to check and verify MX records for any domain. Covers dig, nslookup, web tools, priority values, and common email provider configurations.

How to Check TXT Records: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

Learn how to check TXT records including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Covers lookup methods, validation techniques, and common misconfigurations to avoid.

How to Check DNS Propagation After Making Changes

Learn how to check DNS propagation status after making changes. Understand TTL, use global propagation checkers, and avoid common mistakes.

How to Check DNS Records for Any Domain

Learn how to check DNS records using command-line tools, web-based lookups, and monitoring platforms. Covers dig, nslookup, and online DNS checkers.

How to Perform a Reverse DNS Lookup

Learn how to perform reverse DNS lookups to find the domain associated with an IP address. Covers PTR records, dig -x, nslookup, and email deliverability.