A DNS record is typed information associated with a DNS name: an A record stores an IPv4 address, a CNAME record stores another DNS name, and a TXT record stores text strings. The record type determines what its value means.
What each DNS record contains
| Type | What the value represents | Typical use | Key caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | An IPv4 address | Directing a hostname to an IPv4 endpoint | It stores an address, not a URL. (Cloudflare) |
| CNAME | Another DNS name | Aliasing a hostname to a target name managed elsewhere | It cannot ordinarily coexist with other DNS data at the same name. (Cloudflare) |
| TXT | One or more text strings | Domain verification and email-authentication data | The requesting service interprets the text; it is not a browser destination. (Cloudflare) |
The related AAAA record stores an IPv6 address, the IPv6 counterpart to the IPv4 address in an A record. (Cloudflare)
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These examples are illustrative, not live records: www.example.test A 192.0.2.10 associates the name with an IPv4 address; shop.example.test CNAME storefront.example.net aliases one name to another; and _verify.example.test TXT "verification-token" stores text for a service to check.
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What an A record points to
An A record associates its DNS name with an IPv4 address. The address identifies a network endpoint; it is not a full web address and contains no scheme such as https:// or a page path. If a hosting service asks for an A record, enter the IPv4 address it specifies rather than a URL or another hostname. (Cloudflare)
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What a CNAME points to—and why a lookup may show an IP
A CNAME is a name-to-name alias. Its value must be a DNS name, not an IP address. RFC 1035 describes the CNAME data as “A <domain-name> which specifies the canonical or primary name for the owner. The owner name is an alias.” (RFC 1035)
When a resolver looks up a name with a CNAME, it can continue the lookup at the target name and return that target’s relevant records. This process, often called CNAME chasing, explains why a query can ultimately produce an IP address even though the CNAME itself contains a hostname. The alias record and the result of following it are different pieces of information. (Google Cloud DNS)
The same-name restriction
Under the ordinary DNS rule, a name with a CNAME cannot also hold other ordinary record data. MX and NS records must not point to a CNAME alias. This restriction matters when configuring mail, delegation, or other services at a hostname: do not assume you can add a CNAME alongside those records at the same name. (RFC 1034)
The zone apex and provider-specific aliases
The zone apex is the domain name itself, such as example.com, rather than a subdomain such as www.example.com. Standard DNS does not define a universal way to put an ordinary CNAME at the apex while retaining the other records normally needed there. Some DNS providers offer features with names such as ALIAS or ANAME, or provide CNAME flattening. These are provider-specific behaviors, not interchangeable standard DNS record types. Cloudflare documents flattening as one such provider feature; check your DNS provider’s current documentation and interface before using it. (Cloudflare CNAME flattening; Google Cloud DNS)
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What a TXT record points to
A TXT record stores text. Services can use that text to verify domain ownership or publish email-authentication information, among other service-specific purposes. A TXT value is data for the service that requested it; it does not direct a browser to an IP address or URL and does not redirect website visitors. Follow the requesting service’s instructions for both the exact text and the DNS name where it belongs. (Cloudflare)
How DNS lookup and caching affect what you see
Authoritative DNS servers hold the configured records for a domain. A recursive resolver works on a client’s behalf, consulting DNS servers through the hierarchy—root, top-level domain, then the domain’s authoritative servers—and may return information from its cache rather than asking again immediately. (Google Cloud DNS)
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Each record can have a TTL, or time to live, measured in seconds. It tells resolvers how long they may cache an answer before discarding it and seeking an updated one. After a record change, some users may still receive an earlier cached answer until the relevant cached data expires. There is no single guaranteed wait time: the configured TTL, any earlier cached answer, resolver behavior, and provider setup all affect when a change becomes visible. (Cloudflare; Google Cloud DNS)
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- If the service gives you an IPv4 address, it is asking for an A record.
- If it gives you an IPv6 address, it is asking for an AAAA record.
- If it gives you a hostname as the target, it may be asking for a CNAME; confirm the requested record type and name, especially if other records already exist there.
- If it gives you a verification token or other text string, it is asking for a TXT record, not a web destination.
Use the exact record name, type, and value provided by the website, mail, or verification service. A provider’s interface may use its own labels for apex-alias features, so distinguish those provider-specific options from standard A, CNAME, and TXT records.
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