Suggest an editImprove this articleRefine the answer for “What is a DNS record?”. Your changes go to moderation before they’re published.Approval requiredContentWhat you’re changing🇺🇸EN🇺🇦UAPreviewTitle (EN)Short answer (EN)**A DNS record** is a **single entry in a DNS zone** that stores information about a domain and answers one specific question: **what to do with this domain name**. **Key point:** a DNS record is not a domain - one domain can have many DNS records, and they can be changed without changing the domain name itself.Shown above the full answer for quick recall.Answer (EN)Image**A DNS record** is a **single entry in a DNS zone** that stores information about a domain and answers one specific question: **what to do with this domain name**. In simpler terms: **a DNS record is the rule by which DNS understands where and how to route requests**. --- ## Why DNS records are needed DNS by itself is a system. And **DNS records are the data** stored within it. DNS records are what tell DNS: - which IP a domain points to - where the mail server is located - which DNS servers serve the domain - other service information Without DNS records, DNS **would not know what to answer**. --- ## Where DNS records are stored DNS records: - are stored in a **DNS zone** - are served by **authoritative DNS servers** - are configured by the domain administrator --- ## The most important types of DNS records ### A record Links a domain to an **IPv4 address**. Example: ``` example.com -> 93.184.216.34 ``` --- ### AAAA record Links a domain to an **IPv6 address**. --- ### CNAME Indicates that a domain is an **alias for another domain**. Example: ``` www.example.com -> example.com ``` --- ### MX Indicates **which servers accept mail** for a domain. --- ### NS Shows **which DNS servers are responsible for the zone**. --- ### TXT Stores **arbitrary text** (often used for verification, SPF, DKIM). --- ## What a DNS record usually contains Every DNS record includes: - a name (a domain or subdomain) - a record type (A, MX, CNAME, etc.) - a value (IP, domain, text) - TTL: how long the record lives in cache --- ## An important point for an interview - a DNS record is **not a domain** - one domain can have **many DNS records** - DNS records can be changed **without changing the domain name** --- ## Real-life example DNS records are like lines in a phone book: - a name - a contact type (mobile, work) - a phone number DNS is the book, DNS records are the entries in it. --- ## Short interview answer Remember this formulation: > **A DNS record is an element of a DNS zone that holds information about a domain and defines how DNS should handle requests for that name, for example linking it to an IP address or a mail server.**For the reviewerNote to the moderator (optional)Visible only to the moderator. Helps review go faster.