What are DNS Records?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. Every Website on the planet has its unique IP Address. DNS translates the IP Address to human-readable Domain names. In DNS System, Domain Name and linked IP Address is called DNS Record.
To add, update, or set up DNS records, you must know the basic information behind it. You can view your DNS records at Domain Registrar control panels as well as DNS Management included in WHM, cPanel, Plesk, Solid CP, etc.
In the DNS records, TTL performs an important role, TTL stands for Time To Leave. When there are any changes in DNS Records, it takes time to propagate globally. The request of the TCP packet will traverse one router to another router and to the destination. That timing is known as a TTL of a particular record. In other words, TTL is the time or how long it takes to bring into effect around the globe.
How Domain Name Concept was introduce?
For Humans, it is very complex to find the exact address of any website using IP Address because every website has its own unique IP address. So the question is How can we Identify the websites on the internet? For the solution of this problem the Domain Name System concept introduced. The Domain name system is known as a phone book of the internet.
What is a Domain Name?
You can refer to the Domain name as your website name. With Domain name, Internet visitors can access your website. Domain names can have combinations of numbers and letters. These Domain names are linked with the IP Addresses using DNS Service. A human mind can easily remember the naming conventions instead of IP addresses so they can simply search your domain name in browser to access your website.
What is a Top-Level Domain Name?
TLD, or Top-level Domain is the most important part of the domain name. The TLD is an extension of a domain. This extension can be written on the right side of your domain TLD. This category uses an address to locate a website. There are different types of TLDs available for multiple locations around the globe. Currently, more than 1000 TLDs are available across the globe.
The following are a few of the most popular TLDs:
.com, .net, .org, .us, .co.uk .in .biz, .info, .tv, .cc, .co.me, .mobi.pro, .pw, .ca
How Does the DNS Zone Work?
When you access any domain like Accuwebhosting.com, it will first check the host file entries of your local operating system. If it doesn’t find the IP Address of accuwebhosting.com within your local system host file, than it will check with your ISP Zone File. This process also called as DNS Record Lookup. If there is no cache entry within it’s database for the particular website, ISP forward the request to the Root Nameservers. Root Nameservers contains the authority of Every Single DNS Record. It scan all TLD and redirect it to the auhorative Nameserver where your requrest will find the respective IP Address and resolve the Domain name.
Most Commonly Used DNS Records
(1) SOA Record :
What is an SOA Record?
SOA records stand for Start of Authority are the primary records of the DNS zones. SOA is an important part of the DNS record for the overall DNS zone file. This record includes the administrative information of the zone. Every DNS zone file includes only one SOA record.
SOA Record Example :
Domain name | Record type | Record Data | TTL |
@ | SOA | Server Hostname | 3600 |
Explanation of SOA record format :
- It will have information of Primary Nameserver of your Domain.
- Serial-number: Used to find the order timing details with date and year.
- Refresh Interval: The number of seconds after the zone to be refreshed.
- Retry Interval: The number of seconds after the failed refresh to be retried.
- Expire: Expire suggests the number of seconds after the secondary nameserver will stop answering the request.
How to Check SOA Record / SOA Record Lookup :
Looking to check SOA record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your SOA records.
(2) Name Server Record :
What is a Name Server Record?
Name Server record (NS) is used to identify the server which is authoritative for that particular zone. Anytime you need to change the zone, the NS records need to be changed as well. These records include the information of the pointed current zone. Your DNS records are hosts along with your authoritative name servers.
NS record defines the servers which are providing DNS services for that domain name. You can update your DNS records with your domain registrar’s panel. It will update the records in your DNS zone.
Name server Record Example :
Record Type | TTL | Record Data |
Nameserver | 3600 | ns1.example.com |
Nameserver | 3600 | ns2.example.com |
Explanation of Name server record format:
- ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com is your Domain nameserver which will be added with the server Ip Address at your Domain Registrar Controlpanel.
How to Check Name Server Record / Name Server Record Lookup :
Looking to check Name Server record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your Name Server records.
(3) A Record:
What is an A Record?
An “A” record is a basic record. Employ an A record to map the IP address to the domain name. A records map IP addresses version 4 with the hosted domains. The example of IPv4 is 1xx.xxx.xx.x5. Here A means Addressing. That is the primary record of any website which uses an IPv4 address. Using this record you can also point another domain with the IP address as per the same way.
A Record Example :
Record Name | Record Type | Record Data |
@ | A | 192.168.xxx.xxx |
Explanation of an A record format:
- 192.168.xxx.xxx is showing the IP Address V4 where your Domain is pointing.
How to Check A Record / A Record Lookup :
Looking to check A record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your A records.
(4) AAAA Record:
What is AAAA Record?
“AAAA” record is used in map IPv6 with Domain name. This record is conceptually the same as an “A” record.
An example of an IPv6 may look like “2501:xxx:85a3:0:6:xxx:3r0:7354,” which is stored in AAAA records. The most important aspect regarding AAAA records is that the IPv4 series is running out. The internet is spreading across the globe day by day, so the AAAA record decides how long the record may survive within the growing internet world.
AAAA Record Example :
Record Name | Record Type | Record Data |
@ | AAAA | 2xx6:xx0:xx1:x:248:1xx3:2xc8:xxx6 |
Explanation of AAAA Record Format:
- 2xx6:xx0:xx1:x:248:1xx3:2xc8:xxx6 is showing the IP Address V6 where your Domain is pointing.
How to Check AAAA Record / AAAA Record Lookup :
Looking to check AAAA record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your AAAA records.
(5) CNAME Record:
What is a CNAME Record?
CNAME is short for Canonical Name. The Canonical name involves a domain’s alternative name related to the main domain. Use his CNAME record to map another named domain to the main domain. Whenever you do not need to set different IP addresses for another service of the main domain, you can set the CNAME record.
When you set the CNAME Record for a domain or subdomain, you cannot add an A record for the same. For example, mail.example.com is the canonical name of your main domain. You can no longer set this FQDN with an A record.
You can set a CNAME record main domain and subdomain as well, For example (subdomain) mail.example.com and www.example.com. For both of these domains, you do not need to use different IP addresses. It will work well with the main domain and subdomain.
CNAME Record Example :
Domain/SubDomain | Record Type | Target / Destination |
example.com | CNAME | mydomain.com |
Explanation of CNAME Record Format:
- mydomain.com will be the destination domain where you will need to map your domain name.
How to Check CNAME Record / CNAME Record Lookup :
Looking to check CNAME record of your website? Checkout MX TOOLBOX > CNAME Checker tool to look up your CNAME records.
(6) TXT Record:
What is a TXT Record?
The main purpose of this record is authentication of mail, the ownership of the domain, SSL certificate validation, etc. For security reasons, the web agents recommend adding your TXT records in your DNS zone to prove your identity within your domain. DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records are based on TXT Records.
TXT Record Example :
Record Type | Host | Record Data |
TXT | Example.com | google-site-verification= rXOxyZounnxxxxxx xxxxWvsR1EbUSIQ |
Explanation of TXT Record Format:
- Domain Example.com is authorized with the Google verification TXT Record.
How to Check TXT Record / TXT Record Lookup :
Looking to check SOA record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your SOA records.
(7) MX Record :
What is an MX Record?
MX stands for Mail Exchanger records. These records work just as its name states. Use mail exchangers anytime you require to build a system for accepting mail on behalf of your main domain. You can send emails without the use of MX records, but you will not be able to receive any emails on behalf of your main domain.
MX Record Example:
Record Name | Record Type | TTL | Record Data |
Example.com | Mail Exchanger (MX) | 3600 | mail.example.com |
Explanation of MX Record:
- mail.example.com will be your destination mail service with the TTL of 3600 seconds. If you want to access your email server in browser with mail.example.com, you will need to add A Record of mail sub-domain with IP Address.
How to Check MX Record / MX Record Lookup :
Looking to check MX record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your MX records.
(8) DKIM Record:
What is a DKIM Record?
DKIM stands for Domain Key Identified Mail. This type of record provides protection from spamming and spoofing activity on your domain. DKIM is used to check that the mail is being received from a valid sender. This record verifies the sender’s authentication. Authentication is important because it identifies the spammers, forgery attacks, stops harmful emails, etc.
These records use the DKIM key with the TXT formatted information for verification, which is known as the DKIM signature. Once the mailer sends an email, the signature will store the information with the DKIM key when the receiver email server receives that email. It decrypts the DKIM key and information from the sender mail server. If both are matched then the email will be authorized. The record key values are also known as the DKIM signature.
DKIM Record Example :
Record Type | Domain Selector | TTL | Text |
DKIM | default._domainkey | 3600 | v=DKIM1\; k=rsa\; MIIBIjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8 AMIIBCgKCAQEA4TWhAkE9cQBB7g2C6j xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx EPIhZske9+bp/ILDYbWG0Tzw7DcmWoT xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx laWl42arkWR3Zzq9A/ReMcEfZ5avwP2 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1UygohlB+2EdeHdWFN9neHHDN/hVzL8 2qufuMZ0bOAHyn/kuT9hK0HkHc+vHTG IloPlhr6siN |
Explanation of DKIM Record Format:
- default._domainkey :It is called DKIM Selector. It is used to lookup your DKIM Record.
- Text :Text Data Record is showing the value of DKIM Record. Your Mail Record will generate this Record Automatically.
How to Check DKIM Record / DKIM Record Lookup :
Looking to check DKIM record of your website? Checkout MX TOOLBOX > DKIM Checker tool to look up your DKIM records.
(9) DMARC Record:
What is a DMARC Record?
DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance. It uses the SPF and DKIM filtering in its authentication within its own filtering process.
The DMARC record checks for email authentication on the basis of the following properties:
- It will check the DKIM key verification authentication and give a failing or passing result.
- Next, it will verify the SPF records and validations of IP addresses.
- It will then apply its rules to the email for filtering.
This record applies its own policies as well as SPF and DKIM. After that, it will allow the email sending process to move forward. It will authenticate the sender server, then it will generate the report by comparing the details from its policy.
Upon all the details DMARC creates report and use it as a feedback report in your inbox. From this report, you can easily identify spam versus valid emails. The following are three types of policies of DMARC which handles the fail request as per the settled policy:
-
- None: Action will not be taken. It simply collects your mail data and sends the reports.
- Quarantine: This policy will treat your mail with mistrust.
- Reject: Your mail will be blocked.
DKIM Record Example :
Record Type | Host | TTL | Record Data |
DMARC | Example.com | 3600 | “v=DMARC1;p=reject;pct=100;
rua=mailto:hostmaster@your-domain.com” |
Explanation of DMARC Record Format:
- v is the Protocol version like v=DMARC1
- p means Policy for organizational domain p=none,quarantine,reject etc.
- pct is Percentage of messages subjected to filtering pct=20
- rua is Reporting URI of aggregate reportsc rua=mailto:hostmaster@example.com
How to Check DMARC Record / DMARC Record Lookup :
Looking to check DMARC record of your website? Checkout MX TOOLBOX > DMARC checker tool to look up your DMARC records.
(10) SPF Record:
What is an SPF Record?
SPF or Standard Policy Framework’s main purpose is that no one other than yourself can send emails on behalf of your domain. SPF Record check the IP address of the sender server with the authorized IP address of SPF records for the particular domain. If both IP addresses are the same, then it will allow sending those emails.
SPF Record Example:
Record Type | Host | TTL | Record Data |
SPF | Example.com | 3600 | v=spf1 mx a ip4:1x.xx.x.x2 a:example.com include:Example2.com ~all |
Explanation of SPF Record Format:
- v: this defines the record as SPF record.
- IPV4/6: the IP address, on behalf of the email will be sent.
- Include: here you can add a third party domain, on behalf of you the domain can send mail.
- A: include the domain of A record.
- ~all: email will be received but as a marked category. (soft fail) not listed server.
How to Check SPF Record / SPF Record Lookup :
Looking to check SPF record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your SPF records.
(11) SRV Record:
What is an SRV Record?
The full term for SRV is Service record, This type of record is a service-based record. When the domain requires finding the proper address of the service, this record searches the related services as per its sub-properties. You can use the DNS objects of the SRV records. to create your SRV record manually.
SRV Record Example:
Record Type | Host | TTL | Record Data |
SRV | @_sip._tcp.example.com | 3600 | 110 example.com |
Explanation of SRV Record Format:
- _sip : showing the type of service.
- _tcp :means the protocol
- 110 is the port
- example.com is the host/Domainname.
How to Check SRV Record / SRV Record Lookup :
Looking to check SRV record of your website? Checkout MX TOOLBOX > SRV Lookup tool to look up your SRV records.
(12) PTR Record:
What is a PTR Record?
PTR record or Pointer record points the IP address to the domain. Consider this as a reverse lookup of the A record or DNS record.
PTR Record used for rDNS or Reverse DNS. PTR Record provides confirmation that hostname is connected with IP Address. Outgoing mail service must require PTR Records. Recepient mail server will reject emails incase of invalid or without PTR Records.
PTR Record Example:
Record Type | Host | TTL | Record Data |
PTR | 2.0.136.172.in-addr.arpa | 3600 | host.example.com |
Explanation of PTR Record Format:
- IP Address 172.136.0.2 is pointing to the domain host.example.com
How to Check PTR Record / PTR Record Lookup :
Looking to check PTR record of your website? Checkout AccuWeb Hosting > Show DNS Records tool to look up your PTR records.
(13) CAA Record:
What is a CAA Record?
CAA is short for the Certificate Authority Authorization. This record is used to authenticate the authority of the SSL certificates for the domain. This record has 3 types of sub-properties:
- Flag: The flag property stands for “1.” This means it will not issue the certificate if CAA authentication does not happen (critical issuer).
- Tag: Tag defines the certificate category. (issue, issuewild, iodef)
- Value: Value includes the information of the issuer.
CAA Record Example:
Record Type | Host | TTL | Record Data |
CAA | example.com | 3600 | ca.example.com |
Explanation of CAA Record Format:
- ca.example.com is authorized to issue certificate for the domain example.com
How to Check CAA Record / CAA Record Lookup :
Looking to check CAA record of your website? Checkout CAATEST.CO.UK > CAA Tester to look up your SOA records.
(14) BIMI Record:
What is a BIMI Record?
BIMI stands for Brand Indicators for Message Identification. This is a new method of email authentication. Once the server is marked as authorized by BIMI, it will find the logo of the sender’s organization and send it to that specific mailbox.
Example of BIMI Record:
Record Type | Host | TTL | Record Data |
BIMI | example.com | 3600 | v=BIMI1; l=https://www.example.com/images/logo.svg |
Explanation of BIMI Record Format:
- v=BIMI1 is version of BIMI.
- I=tag presents by a full URL.
How to Check BIMI Record / BIMI Record Lookup :
Looking to check BIMI record of your website? Checkout MX TOOLBOX > BIMI Checker tool to look up your BIMI records.
DNS propagation
Sometimes we need to change the DNS records and nameservers to point the Domain to new IP address. After changing the new DNS records, it will not directly affect. It takes few hours time to propagate your record Globally. This time is called as DNS Propagation. DNS Propgation can take 24 to 48 hours to propogate your records.
Domain Name System Extension
Now you can add the extension from Google Chrome which is introduced by AccuWebHosting. To check the DNS records of the website, you can use our new Chrome extension. You can find the settled DNS records for any domain or website on this platform.
Simply Click on this link to get the chrome extension to check DNS Record.
This extension is divided into two parts. The first part includes information regarding the website, such as IP addresses, locations, ISP. etc. Secondly, you can access the DNS records section of the website. This includes information regarding the domain’s DNS records.
Who is Hosting this Website? is the extension and available for free on the Google Chrome extension.