DNS Record Type Reference
Explore all DNS record types with descriptions, examples, and common use cases. Search and filter instantly.
10 records found
A
Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address (32-bit).
example.com. IN A 93.184.216.34
Point your domain to a web server IP address.
AAAA
Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address (128-bit).
example.com. IN AAAA 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946
Enable IPv6 connectivity for your domain.
CNAME
Creates an alias from one domain to another (canonical name).
www.example.com. IN CNAME example.com.
Redirect www to non-www or point subdomains to services like Vercel/Netlify.
MX
Specifies the mail server responsible for receiving email for a domain.
example.com. IN MX 10 mail.example.com.
Configure email delivery with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or a custom mail server.
TXT
Holds arbitrary text data, often used for domain verification and email authentication.
example.com. IN TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"
Set up SPF, DKIM, DMARC for email security, or verify domain ownership with Google/Facebook.
NS
Delegates a DNS zone to authoritative name servers.
example.com. IN NS ns1.cloudflare.com.
Delegate your domain DNS to a provider like Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, or your registrar.
SOA
Start of Authority record containing administrative info about the DNS zone (serial, refresh, retry, expire, TTL).
example.com. IN SOA ns1.example.com. admin.example.com. 2024010101 3600 900 604800 86400
Automatically created for every DNS zone. Controls zone transfer timing and caching behavior.
PTR
Reverse DNS record mapping an IP address back to a hostname.
34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa. IN PTR example.com.
Required for email servers to pass reverse DNS checks and reduce spam flagging.
SRV
Service locator record specifying host, port, priority, and weight for a service.
_sip._tcp.example.com. IN SRV 10 60 5060 sipserver.example.com.
Configure VoIP (SIP), XMPP chat, LDAP, or Microsoft Teams/Skype for Business.
CAA
Certificate Authority Authorization record specifying which CAs can issue SSL/TLS certificates for a domain.
example.com. IN CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org"
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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