DNS Records Explained: A, CNAME, MX, and TXT

What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the internet. It translates human-friendly names (amanaflow.com) into machine-friendly IP addresses (192.168.1.1). To do this, it uses several types of records.

The 4 Most Important DNS Records

1. A Record (Address Record)

The most fundamental record. It points your domain name directly to the IP address of your server. Example: amanaflow.com -> 104.21.45.12

2. CNAME Record (Canonical Name)

Think of this as an alias. It points one domain name to another domain name, rather than an IP address. It’s commonly used for subdomains. Example: www.amanaflow.com -> amanaflow.com

3. MX Record (Mail Exchanger)

These records tell the world where to send your emails. They point to your mail server. If these are wrong, you won't receive any mail. Example: mx1.amanaflow.cloud

4. TXT Record (Text)

Initially intended for human-readable notes, these are now used for security and verification services like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to prevent email spoofing.

Modifying DNS at AmanaFlow

You can manage all your records through the Zone Editor in your control panel. Changes usually take 1-4 hours to propagate globally.

Manage Your DNS Logs

FAQ

Q: What is a TTL?
A: TTL (Time to Live) tells servers how long to "cache" your DNS info before checking for updates. A lower TTL makes changes happen faster.

Q: Can I have multiple A records?
A: Yes, this is often used for "Round Robin" load balancing, directing traffic to multiple servers.