DNS records are instructions that tell the internet where your domain's traffic should go. Different record types have different jobs. One routes the website, another the email. In this guide we go through the most common records in plain language.
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Points the domain to a server's IPv4 address | yourcompany.fi → 192.0.2.10 |
| AAAA | The same as A but for an IPv6 address | yourcompany.fi → 2001:db8::1 |
| CNAME | Makes an address an alias of another name | www → yourcompany.fi |
| MX | Routes email to the right mail server | mail.yourcompany.fi |
| TXT | A text record, for example verifications and SPF | v=spf1 include:_spf.nordweb.fi ~all |
DNS records are changed for example when you take a new email service into use, verify the domain for an external service or point the site to a new server. Changes are made in the domain's DNS management and take effect after propagation.
Read also Managing DNS settings
Read also What DNS and name servers are
An A record points directly to an IP address, a CNAME points to another name that eventually leads to an IP address.
Check the MX records and wait for propagation to finish. A wrong MX record stops email from being delivered.
