What are A records, CNAME records, and MX records?

1. A Records (Address Records)

  • What they do:
    An A record maps your domain name (like yourwebsite.com) directly to an IP address (like 123.45.67.89). This tells browsers exactly where to find your website on the internet.
  • Example:
    If you set an A record for yourwebsite.com to 123.45.67.89, anyone who visits that domain will be sent to the server at that IP address.
  • When to use:
    Use A records to point your main domain or subdomains directly to a web server’s IP address.

2. CNAME Records (Canonical Name Records)

  • What they do:
    A CNAME record points a domain or subdomain to another domain name, instead of an IP address. It’s like saying, “This domain is really just an alias for another domain.”
  • Example:
    If you want blog.yourwebsite.com to show your WordPress-hosted blog, you might set a CNAME for blog pointing to yourblog.wordpress.com.
  • When to use:
    Use CNAME records to set up subdomains (like www, blog, or shop) that should follow another domain’s DNS settings.
    Note: You cannot use a CNAME for your root domain (e.g., yourwebsite.com), only for subdomains.

3. MX Records (Mail Exchange Records)

  • What they do:
    An MX record tells the internet where to deliver email sent to your domain (like info@yourwebsite.com). It assigns your domain’s email traffic to a specific mail server.
  • Example:
    If you use Google Workspace for email, you’ll set MX records that point to Google’s mail servers.
  • When to use:
    Use MX records to direct email for your domain to the right provider.
    You can have multiple MX records with different priorities for backup mail servers.

In a Nutshell:

  • A Record:
    Connects a domain or subdomain to an IP address (for your website).
  • CNAME Record:
    Connects a subdomain to another domain name (for aliases or redirects).
  • MX Record:
    Tells email where to go (for your domain’s email addresses).

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