DNS records are the entries that nameservers send to users computers, containing information about how to find resources on the Internet.
There are several types of DNS records, and each has a specific role. Some of these are explained below:
| Record Type: | Purpose: |
| A | Standing for “address record,” an A record points a hostname to an IPv4 address. It is the main record responsible for directing a browser’s hostname query to its IP address. The A record should generally not be changed manually because a properly configured InterWorx server will generate a correct one for all new domains. |
| AAAA | Similar in function to an A record, but pointing the hostname to an IPv6 address, rather than an IPv4 address. This IPv6 address system is the most recent version and will soon the the preferred IP format for all future domains. |
| CNAME | A CNAME record refers to “canonical name” record because they usually map an alias to its canonical name. In short, they allow a domain to respond to multiple hostnames. |
| MX | An MX record, or mail exchanger record, specifies the domain’s mail server so that all incoming emails are diverted to the correct mail server. For example, an email sent to username@example.com would instead go to the correct mail server for example.com. It is also possible to assign priorities to multiple mail servers, but most modern domains require only one MX record. |
| NS | NS refers to “name server,” and this record identifies the authoritative name server for the domain. These are most often used for partitioning domains into sub-domains. Domain registrars ask for a domain’s authoritative name servers upon registration; therefore, this record should be assigned when replying to the registrar’s request. |
| TXT | TXT or text records hold various information about a domain. Common uses include SPFs, DK, and DKIM. TXT records can hold any form of human-readable information |
