What are A records, CNAME records, and MX 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.

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.

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).