What are DNS records? A, AAAA, CNAME, MX and TXT

What does DNS do?

DNS translates your domain into addresses computers understand. When someone types your domain into a browser or sends you an e-mail, DNS records tell them which server to go to.

The most common records

• A: points the name at an IPv4 address (for example your website's server).
• AAAA: does the same for an IPv6 address.
• CNAME: points a name at another name (for example www → yourstore.myshopify.com). The domain itself (@) cannot have a CNAME.
• MX: says which server receives e-mail, with a priority number.
• TXT: holds verification codes and e-mail security records such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
• SRV and CAA: for specific services and for which certificate authorities may issue SSL.

Name (@, www, mail…)

A record's name says which part of your domain it applies to. "@" is the domain itself (example.com), "www" means www.example.com and "mail" mail.example.com.

TTL and propagation

TTL says, in seconds, how long a record may be cached. After a change, the old value can still be seen on some networks until the TTL runs out, so changes can take from a few minutes to a few hours to show everywhere.

DNS at Dilmex

If your domain uses Dilmex nameservers, manage its records in the DNS tab of the domain page in your account. For services such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Vercel, GitHub Pages and Shopify, "Quick setup" shows the records needed first and adds them once you confirm; your other records stay.