DNS record types
| Type | What it holds | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address of the name | 203.0.113.10 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address | 2001:db8::10 |
| CNAME | An alias: “look up this other name instead” | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail servers, with a priority | 10 mx1.example.com |
| NS | Name servers that hold the domain’s records | ns1.example.net |
| TXT | Text: SPF, DMARC, site verification codes | v=spf1 include:… ~all |
| SOA | Zone details: primary server, serial number, timers | — |
| CAA | Which certificate authorities may issue SSL certificates | 0 issue "letsencrypt.org" |
| PTR | Name for an IP address (reverse DNS) | dns.google |
When to use a DNS lookup
- After moving a site or changing hosts: check the A and AAAA records point to the new server.
- Email not arriving: check the MX records, then SPF and DMARC with the DMARC checker.
- Domain verification: confirm the TXT record that Google, Microsoft or another service asked you to add is live.
- SSL certificate errors: check CAA records allow your certificate authority.
The tool asks Cloudflare’s public resolver (1.1.1.1) and, when comparing, Google’s (8.8.8.8), using encrypted DNS over HTTPS. Results are live, not from a stored copy. For mail servers only, see MX lookup; for name servers, NS lookup.