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DNS Record Reference

Complete DNS record type guide with descriptions and examples. Learn about A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT, SOA, SRV, and PTR records.

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DNS education

DNS record reference tool

This browser-only tool explains the most common DNS record types, shows realistic example values, and walks through how DNS resolution works from cache lookup to authoritative answer.

Record types
9
Resolution steps
6
Copyable types
9
DNS record

A

Maps a hostname to an IPv4 address.

Example value
93.184.216.34
Common use

Point a root domain at a web server.

DNS record

AAAA

Maps a hostname to an IPv6 address.

Example value
2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946
Common use

Enable IPv6 access for a hostname.

DNS record

CNAME

Aliases one hostname to another hostname.

Example value
www.example.com -> app.hosting-platform.net
Common use

Point a subdomain at a managed service.

DNS record

MX

Defines which mail servers receive email for a domain.

Example value
10 mail1.example.com
Common use

Route incoming email to your provider.

DNS record

NS

Lists the authoritative name servers for a zone.

Example value
ns1.cloudflare.com
Common use

Delegate DNS hosting for a domain.

DNS record

TXT

Stores arbitrary text such as SPF, DKIM, or verification data.

Example value
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
Common use

Verify domain ownership or email policy.

DNS record

SOA

Contains primary zone metadata such as serial and timers.

Example value
ns1.example.com hostmaster.example.com 2025010101 7200 3600 1209600 3600
Common use

Control zone transfer and refresh behavior.

DNS record

SRV

Defines the host and port for a named service.

Example value
_sip._tcp.example.com 10 60 5060 sipserver.example.com
Common use

Discover service endpoints automatically.

DNS record

PTR

Maps an IP address back to a hostname in reverse DNS.

Example value
34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa -> server.example.com
Common use

Support mail reputation and reverse lookups.

How DNS works

DNS resolution process

When someone opens a website, DNS answers a sequence of questions until an IP address or target service is found.

  1. 1 Your device first checks the browser cache, OS cache, and local hosts file.
  2. 2 If no answer exists locally, the stub resolver asks a recursive resolver such as your ISP or a public DNS provider.
  3. 3 The recursive resolver walks the hierarchy by asking the root servers where the TLD servers live.
  4. 4 The TLD servers point the resolver to the authoritative name servers for the domain.
  5. 5 The authoritative server returns the requested record and TTL for caching.
  6. 6 The resolver caches the answer and returns it to the client so the browser can connect to the target service.
Tip: TTL values determine how long recursive resolvers and browsers keep answers cached before asking again.

How to use

How to Use the DNS Record Reference

  1. 1 Browse all DNS record types with their descriptions and example values.
  2. 2 Learn what each record type does: A records map to IP addresses, MX records handle email routing, etc.
  3. 3 Understand the DNS resolution process through the visual explanation section.

DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses. It is a foundational internet technology that every web developer should understand.

Common record types include A (IPv4 address), AAAA (IPv6), CNAME (alias), MX (mail server), TXT (verification/SPF), and NS (nameserver delegation).

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