DNS Record Types Explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS and PTR
The Domain Name System (DNS) uses different record types to describe how domain names should be handled. Some DNS records connect a hostname to an IP address, while others identify mail servers, authoritative name servers, aliases, verification information, or reverse DNS mappings. Quick answer: A records point to IPv4 addresses, AAAA records point to IPv6 addresses, CNAME records create aliases, MX records identify mail servers, TXT records store text-based information, NS records identify authoritative name servers, and PTR records are commonly used for reverse DNS lookups. What is a DNS record? A DNS record is an entry stored in the Domain Name System that provides information about a domain or hostname. When a DNS resolver receives a query, it can request a particular record type depending on the information needed. For example, a browser trying to reach a we...