DNS record

Definition

A DNS record is a structured entry that publishes information about a name in the Domain Name System.

How it works

Every record carries an owner name, a type, a time-to-live, and a value whose meaning depends on the type: A and AAAA hold addresses, MX routes mail, CNAME creates aliases, and TXT carries text for jobs like email authentication. Taken together, a domain's records describe every service attached to its name.

Example: An MX record identifies which mail server accepts messages for example.com.

Often confused: A zone is the whole collection of records for a delegated name; each record is one entry inside it.

Related terms

• A record
• CNAME record (CNAME)
• Mail exchange record (MX)
• TXT record
• Time to live (TTL)

Learn more from Bitfoo

• Understand DNS propagation

Sources

• IETF RFC 1035: Domain Names — Implementation and Specification
• ICANN Acronyms and Terms

Last reviewed 2026-07-19.