DNS (Domain Name System) records are essentially mapping instructions that tell the DNS server which IP addresses correspond to your domain and how to handle requests sent to it.
Here are the most commonly used DNS record types and their purposes:
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A Record: Points your domain or subdomains to specific IP addresses.
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MX Record: Determines where your domain’s emails should be delivered.
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CNAME Record: Redirects your domain or subdomains to another domain or subdomain.
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TXT Record: Stores text-based information related to your domain. A common use is for SPF records to improve email deliverability.
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SRV Record: Points one domain to another domain name using a specific service port. Key components include:
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service: Name of the service.
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proto: Protocol (usually TCP or UDP).
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name: Domain name the record applies to (ends with a dot).
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TTL: Time to live, defining how long the record is cached.
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priority: Lower numbers indicate higher preference.
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weight: Determines preference when multiple records share the same priority (higher = more preferred).
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port: Service port number.
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target: Hostname of the server running the service (ends with a dot).
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Filling out TTL, Priority, Weight, Port, and Target is usually straightforward, and the values are typically provided by the company generating the record.