DNS record, which stands for domain name system, is the essential building block for translating every interaction on the Internet; it allows a human-readable domain name to become a machine-understandable IP address. DNS records contain instructions in authoritative DNS servers and provide information about a domain, including its corresponding internet protocol (IP) addresses and how to handle requests for that domain.
These records are a series of text files written as DNS syntax; they represent commands that tell the server what to do. Several types of DNS records handle different aspects of internet operations, such as aliasing one domain name to another or routing emails (MX records).
Types of DNS Records
- AAAA record: This record holds a domain’s IPv6 address.
- A record – This contains the IP address of a domain.
- SOA record – The admin information about a domain is stored in this DNS record.
- CNAME record – This record can send one domain or subdomain to another domain.
- NS record – The name of a server for a DNS entry is stored here.
- MX record – This record directs emails to the right email server.
- PTR record – This contains a domain name in reverse lookups.
- TXT record – An admin can store text notes in the record that are often used for email security using this TXT record.
- SRV record – This specifies a port for specific services.
How Does a DNS Record Work?
A DNS query is initiated anytime you click on a link, enter a URL into a browser, or send an email; this process is called DNS lookup. The query gets through to the DNS server responsible for the domain you are trying to access. The server contains the DNS records for that domain, and the record will direct your computer to the correct IP address.
Every domain has multiple DNS records, which act as an address book that directs traffic correctly. This will translate the domain name into an IP address and direct your computer to the correct IP address.