What Are DNS Records? Understanding the Basics

DNS records are essential for directing your domain name to the correct web and email services. Understanding the basics of DNS records can save time and prevent outages, whether launching a website or configuring email.

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• What Are DNS Records?
• Common DNS Record Types and What They Do
• DNS Glossary
• When Should You Update DNS Records?
• How to Update DNS Records
• How Long Do DNS Changes Take?
• DNS Records
• What Happens If You Lose Hosting?
• Summary

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What Are DNS Records?

DNS (Domain Name System) records are instructions stored in your domain’s zone file. They translate human-readable domain names (like yourdomain.com) into technical data (like IP addresses or mail server locations) that browsers and email clients use.

Common DNS Record Types and What They Do

Type	Purpose	Example
A	Points domain to an IPv4 address	@ → 192.0.2.1
AAAA	Points to an IPv6 address	@ → 2001:db8::1
CNAME	Creates an alias to another domain	www → yourdomain.com
MX	Directs email to mail servers	@ → mail.yourdomain.com
TXT	Adds text-based data (e.g., SPF, DKIM)	@ → v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
SRV	Defines services like VOIP or chat	_sip._tcp → service URL and port

DNS Glossary

• Zone File: The DNS configuration file for a domain.
• TTL (Time to Live): The duration for which DNS data is cached before refreshing.
• Host Record: Specifies the subdomain (e.g., @ = root, www, mail).
• Priority (MX): Determines mail server preference (lower = higher priority).
• Weight & Port (SRV): Used to balance service traffic or route to specific ports.

When Should You Update DNS Records?

You may need to update DNS records when:

• Pointing your domain to a new website host
• Setting up third-party email providers like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
• Verifying your domain ownership for services like Google Search Console
• Adding custom records for services like Zoom, Shopify, or HubSpot

How to Update DNS Records

To update your DNS records, please check out our DNS Management guide. It's filled with easy-to-follow instructions to make the process simple.

How Long Do DNS Changes Take?

Changes to DNS records usually take effect within minutes. Still, full propagation across the internet can take up to 24–48 hours, depending on the TTL value.

For more information about propagation, please refer to this guide: DNS Propagation: Timeframes, Tools, and Troubleshooting.

DNS Records

• A Record
• CNAME Record
• MX Record
• TXT Record (for SPF)
• SRV Record
• AAAA Record

A Record

An A record (Address Record) maps a domain or subdomain (like example.com or blog.example.com) to an IP address (e.g., 192.168.0.1). This allows users to access websites using easy-to-remember domain names instead of numerical IP addresses.

CNAME Record

A CNAME record (Canonical Name) points a domain or subdomain to another domain name rather than directly to an IP address. This simplifies updates; you only need to change the linked A record, and all CNAMEs pointing to it will automatically resolve to the new IP.

For example, www.example.com can point to example.com, or docs.example.com can point to ghs.google.com for Google Workspace services.

MX Record

An MX Entry (Mail Exchanger) directs email for a domain to its designated mail server. Similar to CNAMEs, MX entries must point to a domain name, not directly to an IP address. They also include a "priority" value, determining the order in which mail servers are contacted.

For more information on managing MX records, please see How to Edit MX Records.

TXT Record (for SPF)

A TXT record (Text record) stores human-readable text for various purposes beyond directing traffic.

They are dynamic and commonly used for:

• Google Verification: To prove domain ownership for Google services.
• Sender Policy Framework (SPF): Helps identify legitimate email senders from your domain, reducing spam and spoofing. More information is available on How to Set up SPF Records.
• DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM): Verifies email authenticity through cryptographic signatures, ensuring messages haven't been tampered with and originated from a trusted source. For more details, visit dkim.org.

SRV Record

An SRV (Service) record directs one domain to another by specifying a particular destination port. These records facilitate routing specific services to designated locations, such as VOIP or instant messaging.

For example, to configure your domain to utilize Google's XMPP server, you can reference Google's documentation, which specifies the SRV record format as follows:

_xmpp-server._tcp.gmail.com. IN SRV 5 0 5269 xmpp-server.l.google.com.

When adding the DNS record, you should input the settings in this manner:

• Service: _xmpp-server
• Protocol: _tcp
• Host: chat (If you want to use the chat subdomain. Replace this with the subdomain you want to use or @ for the root domain.)
• TTL: 14400
• Type: SRV
• Priority: 5
• Weight: 0
• Port: 5269
• Points To: xmpp-server.l.google.com

AAAA Record

The AAAA record is similar to the A record, allowing you to point the domain to an IPv6 address. More information on IPv6 can be found at https://ipv6.com/.

What Happens If You Lose Hosting?

If your Bluehost hosting plan expires, your DNS records may be deleted. Unlike domain registrations, DNS records are not backed up automatically.

Summary

DNS records are the backbone of your website and email functionality. Whether pointing your domain to a new server, verifying ownership, or setting up third-party services, knowing how to manage DNS records gives you control and peace of mind.

Understanding the purpose of each record type and how to update them in Bluehost will help you avoid common misconfigurations and keep your domain running smoothly. Always document changes and allow time for propagation.