Understanding DNS Records: A, CNAME, MX, TXT & Nameservers Explained

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the internet’s address book, translating human-friendly names like meradomain.com into machine-readable IP addresses.

1. A Record (Address Record)

Points your domain or subdomain directly to an IPv4 server address (e.g., 192.0.2.1). This connects your URL directly to your web hosting server node.

2. CNAME Record (Canonical Name)

Acts as an alias pointing one hostname to another hostname. Commonly used to map www.yourdomain.com to root yourdomain.com or connect CDNs.

3. MX Records (Mail Exchange)

Directs incoming corporate emails to your email service provider (such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365). MX records include priority numbers indicating routing order.

4. TXT Records (Text Verification)

Holds arbitrary text data used for domain ownership validation, Google Search Console verification, and critical email security protocols like SPF and DKIM.