DNS Records Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to A, CNAME, TXT, and More

If you’ve ever set up a website or email address, you’ve probably seen terms like “A record,” “CNAME,” or “MX record” and wondered what they mean. This article walks you through the basics of DNS records, explains the most common types, and shows how to use them to control your domain’s behavior.

We’ll also cover how to manage DNS settings with Unstoppable Domains if you’ve registered a traditional DNS domain through our platform.

DNS (Domain Name System) records are instructions stored on DNS servers that define how your domain behaves. These records determine where your website lives, how emails are routed, and how services verify your domain.

You can think of DNS records as the command center for your domain name. Whether you’re connecting your domain to a web host, email service, or Google verification tool, you’ll need to configure the correct DNS records.

There are many types of DNS records, but some are used far more frequently than others. The most important ones to understand include:

• A Record
• CNAME Record
• TXT Record
• MX Record

Let’s break each one down.

An A record (short for “Address record”) links your domain to an IP address, a numerical address that identifies a server on the internet.

What’s an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is like a home address for computers and servers. It tells your browser where to find the server that holds your website content. The most common format is IPv4, which looks like this: 192.0.2.1.

What’s a web server?
A web server is a computer that stores your website’s files, HTML, images, scripts and delivers them when someone visits your site.

So what does an A record do?
It tells the DNS system:
“When someone types in yourdomain.com, send them to the IP address 192.0.2.1.”

This is essential for launching any website — it connects the domain name to the server hosting your content.

A CNAME record (Canonical Name) tells your domain to forward traffic to another domain instead of pointing directly to a server.

In practice, it means:
“When someone visits this domain, automatically redirect them to another domain.”

Example:
You might set:
blog.yourdomain.com → yoursite.hostingplatform.com

This means that when someone visits your blog subdomain, they’re sent to a page hosted by your website builder.

What’s a subdomain?
A subdomain is a part of your main domain. For example, blog.yourdomain.com or shop.yourdomain.com. These are often used to organize different sections of a site or connect to different services.

CNAMEs are most commonly used for subdomains and third-party platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace.

Summary:
Use an A record when you know the server IP address and want to connect your main domain.
Use a CNAME when you’re connecting a subdomain to a platform or service hosted on another domain.

A TXT record is used to store plain text in your domain’s DNS settings. It’s most commonly used for verification and security purposes.

What is it used for?

• Google Search Console verification: This is a tool by Google that helps you track how your website appears in search results. You verify ownership of your domain by adding a TXT record with a unique code provided by Google.
• SPF/DKIM records: These are security records used to prevent email spoofing and improve email deliverability. They tell email servers which services are allowed to send mail on your behalf.
• Site ownership validation: Many services like Microsoft, Facebook, or HubSpot require you to prove you own a domain before connecting it to their platform. TXT records make that possible.

Example:
yourdomain.com → "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"

While this may look complex, most services provide the exact value to copy and paste — you don’t need to understand the code itself to use it correctly.

An MX record (Mail Exchange) controls where your domain’s email is delivered. If you want to use an email provider like Gmail or Outlook with your custom domain, you’ll need to add that provider’s MX records to your DNS settings.

What does an MX record look like?

It includes two parts:

• Priority number (e.g. 1, 5, 10)
• Mail server address (e.g. ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM)

Example:
Priority: 1 → ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM

The priority number determines which mail server gets used first. Lower numbers mean higher priority. If the first mail server fails, the system tries the next one.

Where is this added?
You add MX records in your domain registrar’s DNS settings panel, just like A, CNAME, or TXT records.

To configure your domain, follow these steps:

1. Log into your domain registrar’s dashboard
2. Go to DNS settings or “Manage DNS”
3. Choose the record type (A, CNAME, TXT, MX, etc.)
4. Input the required values (host, target, TTL)
5. “Save changes” and allow time for propagation (usually 5–30 minutes)

This process is known as DNS configuration, and it’s required to connect your domain to websites, email services, or verification tools.

If you’ve registered a DNS domain (like .com or .net) through Unstoppable Domains, you can manage your DNS records directly from your dashboard just like with any traditional registrar.

Here’s how to add or update DNS records on Unstoppable:

1. Go to “My Domains” in your account
2. Select the domain you want to update
3. Ensure “DNS Records” is selected on the left-side panel
4. Choose the record type (A, CNAME, TXT, MX, etc.)
5. Enter the required values from your web host, email provider, or verification service
6. Choose “Save” and updates usually propagate within a few minutes

Every DNS domain registered through Unstoppable includes:

• At-cost pricing on both registration and renewals
• Free WHOIS privacy protection
• Support for all major DNS record types, including A, CNAME, TXT, and MX
• A clean, user-friendly dashboard for full DNS configuration

DNS records may seem technical at first, but once you understand what each type does, they’re one of the most powerful tools in your digital toolkit.

Whether you’re launching a website, setting up email, or verifying ownership with Google or another service, knowing how to navigate DNS records is key.

And if you’re registering domains with Unstoppable, you can manage your DNS settings easily with transparent pricing and support along the way.