DNS Records 101: Understanding A, AAAA, CNAME, and MX

Setting up a domain can be intimidating. Here are the four "must-know" records that every developer should understand.

1. A & AAAA Records

The "A" record points a domain to an IPv4 address. The "AAAA" record (Quad-A) does the same for IPv6. These are the foundations of the web.

2. CNAME (Canonical Name)

A CNAME is an alias. Instead of pointing to an IP, it points to another domain name. Use this for services like Shopify or Heroku where the underlying IP might change frequently.

3. MX (Mail Exchanger)

The MX record tells the internet where to send emails for your domain. It points to your mail server (like Gmail or Outlook) and includes a priority number.

4. TXT Records

TXT records store arbitrary text. They are commonly used for Domain Verification and security protocols like SPF and DKIM to prevent email spoofing.