Domain Name System (DNS) records are used to map domain names to specific IP addresses or other resource information. There are various types of DNS records, each serving a specific purpose. Here are some of the most common types of DNS records:
- A (Address) Record: This is one of the most fundamental DNS records and maps a domain name to an IPv4 address. For example, it associates “linuxtrek.com” with “192.0.2.1”.
- AAAA (IPv6 Address) Record: Similar to the A record, but it maps a domain name to an IPv6 address. For example, it associates “linuxtrek.com” with “2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334”.
- CNAME (Canonical Name) Record: This record creates an alias for one domain name to another canonical domain name. For example, “www.linuxtrek.com” can be a CNAME for “linuxtrek.com”.
- MX (Mail Exchange) Record: This record specifies the mail servers responsible for receiving emails sent to a domain. It points to the domain name of the mail server. For example, “mail.linuxtrek.com” as the mail server for “linuxtrek.com”.
- TXT (Text) Record: This record is used to store any text-based information associated with a domain. Commonly used for SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) for email verification.
- NS (Name Server) Record: This record specifies the authoritative name servers for a domain. It indicates which servers are responsible for handling DNS queries for that domain.
- PTR (Pointer) Record: This record is used in reverse DNS lookups. It maps an IP address to a domain name, typically used for verifying the authenticity of emails.
- SRV (Service) Record: This record is used to define the location of specific services within a domain. It is commonly used for VOIP (Voice over IP) and other applications.
- SOA (Start of Authority) Record: This record is essential for each DNS zone and indicates the primary source of zone-related information, including the serial number of the zone, refresh interval, retry interval, etc.
These are some of the most commonly used DNS record types. Each record serves a specific purpose and plays a crucial role in the functioning of the Domain Name System.