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Common DNS Records

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The most common DNS record types are A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, and TXT. Most domains need at least these records to function correctly for web browsing and email. The DNS ecosystem includes many other record types for specialized purposes, but these are foundational for nearly every domain. DNSimple’s DNS hosting supports all of them, plus other record types. For a complete index of DNS topics, see DNS at DNSimple.

Understanding the most common DNS record types

Below is a summary of the most frequently used DNS record types. For a deeper dive into each, refer to their linked dedicated explanation articles.

A record

Description: The most fundamental type. An A record maps a human-readable domain name (like www.example.com) directly to an IPv4 address (e.g., 192.0.2.1). It is how your browser finds the specific server hosting a website.

Learn more: What Is an A Record?

AAAA record

Description: The IPv6 counterpart to the A record. An AAAA record maps a domain name to an IPv6 address (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334), which is increasingly essential for modern internet connectivity.

Learn more: What Is an AAAA Record?

CNAME record

Description: Functions as an alias, mapping one hostname to another hostname (e.g., blog.example.com to yourblog.wordpress.com). It is commonly used to reduce duplication and simplify maintenance when multiple names point to the same service.

Learn more: What Is a CNAME Record?

MX record

Description: Identifies the mail servers responsible for receiving email for a domain. If you want to receive emails at your domain (e.g., you@example.com), these records must be correctly configured.

Learn more: What Is an MX Record?

NS record

Description: Delegates a domain or subdomain to a set of authoritative name servers. These records are critical for the DNS hierarchy, telling resolvers which servers are responsible for your domain’s DNS information.

Learn more: What Is an NS Record?

SRV record

Description: Helps clients locate specific services (like VoIP or instant messaging) by defining the hostname, port, priority, and weight of servers offering that service.

Learn more: What Is an SRV Record?

SOA record

Description: The “Start of Authority” record stores vital administrative information about your DNS zone, including the primary name server, the domain administrator’s email, and various timers for zone transfers and caching. Every zone must have an SOA record, and DNSimple automatically manages these for you.

Learn more: What Is an SOA Record?

TXT record

Description: Used to associate arbitrary text content with a domain. TXT records are highly versatile and are essential for various purposes like email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and domain ownership verification.

Learn more: What Is a TXT Record?

CAA record

Description: A security record that allows you to specify which Certificate Authorities (CAs) are authorized to issue SSL certificates for your domain. This helps prevent unauthorized certificate issuance.

Learn more: What Is a CAA Record?

ALIAS record (DNSimple proprietary)

Description: A DNSimple-specific record that provides CNAME-like functionality, but can be used on the root domain (apex) alongside other records. DNSimple answers it with the A or AAAA addresses of the hostname it points to.

Learn more: What Is an ALIAS Record?

URL record (DNSimple proprietary)

Description: A DNSimple-specific record that enables easy web (HTTP) redirects from one hostname to another URL, handled by DNSimple’s redirector service.

Learn more: What Is a URL Record?

Example DNS records for a typical domain

While every domain’s DNS configuration can be unique, a basic set of records is common to most domains for a website and email. If you have just purchased a domain or are reviewing an existing setup, use this as a checklist. The dig examples use documentation addresses, so your own output will show your values. To learn how to run these checks, see How to Use dig.

This article assumes example.com is your domain name.

Root domain record (example.com)

For a website to load at your root (or apex) domain, the root needs a record that points to your web server.

  • Common configuration:
    • An A record pointing to the IPv4 address where your website is hosted.
    • An ALIAS record, if your host gives you a hostname instead of a static IP address (for example, Heroku, Netlify, or GitHub Pages).
    • A URL record, if the root domain should redirect to another URL, such as www.example.com.
  • To verify: run dig example.com. The ANSWER SECTION should return at least one A record. ALIAS and URL records also answer with A records.
;; ANSWER SECTION:
example.com.		3600	IN	A	192.0.2.1

Note

A CNAME record cannot be used on the root domain (example.com). The root always has SOA and NS records, and no other record can exist at the same name as a CNAME. Use an ALIAS record instead.

www subdomain record (www.example.com)

It is common to configure the www subdomain in addition to the root domain.

  • Common configuration:
    • A CNAME record pointing to your root domain (example.com), so you only have to update the root domain’s address if it changes.
    • An A record pointing to the same IP address as your root domain.
    • A URL record to redirect www.example.com to example.com, or the other way around.
    • An ALIAS record also works on www, but a CNAME is usually enough for a subdomain.
  • To verify: run dig www.example.com. The ANSWER SECTION should return at least one A record, or one CNAME record followed by the address it points to.
;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.example.com.	3600	IN	CNAME	example.com.
example.com.		3600	IN	A	192.0.2.1

MX email records

To receive email at your domain (for example, you@example.com), you need at least one MX record pointing to your mail server. It is common to have two or more MX records with different priorities, so mail still arrives if one server is unavailable. Your email provider tells you which MX records to add.

  • To verify: run dig MX example.com. The ANSWER SECTION should return at least one MX record.
;; ANSWER SECTION:
example.com.		3600	IN	MX	10 mx1.mail-provider.example.
example.com.		3600	IN	MX	20 mx2.mail-provider.example.

A CAA record on your root domain lists the certificate authorities that may issue SSL certificates for your domain, which helps prevent unauthorized certificate issuance. If you add one, make sure it allows the certificate authority you buy certificates from. See CAA Records and SSL Certificates.

  • To verify: run dig CAA example.com. The ANSWER SECTION returns your CAA records, if you have any.
;; ANSWER SECTION:
example.com.		3600	IN	CAA	0 issue "letsencrypt.org"
example.com.		3600	IN	CAA	0 issue "sectigo.com"
example.com.		3600	IN	CAA	0 iodef "mailto:security@example.com"

Next steps: configuring your DNS records

To add, edit, or remove any of these records in your DNSimple account, see the How-to guides in DNS at DNSimple, or start with the record editor.

Have more questions?

If you have additional questions or need any assistance with your DNS records, just contact support, and we will be happy to help.