In the Domain Name System it has different DNS record types. The DNS would not be able to function without them. We will define and discuss which types of records are most important in this article. So let’s start.
What does DNS records mean?
DNS records are text instructions that allow domain names to be resolved to IP addresses and are stored in zone files. They are light and easy to update (if necessary), and their weight varies depending on the query type. Because computers are not human, they rely on records to comprehend and decipher texts. That is, they turn the written file into machine-readable numbers.
Why DNS records are important?
Which are the most common DNS record types?
Following earlier, there are many different types of records. Each one has a specific function essential for your Domain Name System, also known as DNS, to function normally. We’ll take a look at six of the more significant ones, which are:
- A record – The A record, often known as the address record, is the most basic and widely used record type. It distinguishes itself by redirecting the domain to an IPv4 address. In order to display the correct IP address when a user requests a domain name (for example, example4domain.net), the A record must be precise. As a result, the A record resolves example4domain.net to the IP address 56.78.184.205.
- SOA record – The Start of Authority (SOA) record contains the administrative information for the DNS zone. At this moment, authority is put in place. It includes both the principal name server and zone-wide settings. People are apprehensive when undertaking a DNS zone transfer. An SOA record is necessary for each domain since it acts as the foundation for all zone files.
- PTR record – We can say that the PTR record is the inverse of the A record. In other words, it determines whether or not it has a reverse zone relevant to an IP address. The PTR record contains information about the reverse mapping of an IP address. Just above, we take a look at the following IP address: 56.78.184.205. So the reverse would look like this: 205.184.78.56.in-addr.arpa. In such a way, PTR ensures that communications sent to particular users do not wind up in their spam folders.
- MX record – The MX record, also known as the Mail Exchanger record, identifies the email server in charge of accepting emails for the specific domain. In addition, it redirects the domain name to the incoming mail server’s hostname. It’s crucial to remember that this is a hostname, not an IP address. If there is a problem, you can add numerous MX records to establish a backup.
- NS record – Name server records (NS records) indicate which name servers are authoritative for a given DNS zone. They will connect your domain name to the name servers’ hostname. It is advisable to add NS records and specify which name servers are authoritative, or your zone will not function.
- CNAME record – The CNAME record shows the domain or subdomain’s actual, canonical domain name rather than an IP address. It is distinct from other records because it is self-contained and cannot be combined with others. It may, for example, www.example4domain.net to the website example4domain.net.
Conclusion
As you may have probably concluded, different types of records make it easier to run your business. DNS records are very important if you want your users to be able to easily visit your website, receive your emails, and so on. In addition, they tell servers how to reply to a DNS query. We can infer that they are a key part of the Domain Name System as a whole.
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