1. A Records (Address Records)
- What they do:
An A record maps your domain name (likeyourwebsite.com
) directly to an IP address (like123.45.67.89
). This tells browsers exactly where to find your website on the internet. - Example:
If you set an A record foryourwebsite.com
to123.45.67.89
, 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 wantblog.yourwebsite.com
to show your WordPress-hosted blog, you might set a CNAME forblog
pointing toyourblog.wordpress.com
. - When to use:
Use CNAME records to set up subdomains (likewww
,blog
, orshop
) 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 (likeinfo@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).