A Plain-Language Guide to DNS Records
DNS looks more intimidating than it is. Most small business website setups depend on a small set of records that decide where the site loads, how email works, and which services are allowed to verify the domain.
May 28, 2026
A and CNAME records point web traffic
An A record usually points a domain or subdomain to an IP address. A CNAME points one name to another name.
For a website, these records decide whether visitors reach the right hosting provider. A bad record can make the site vanish even when the code is fine.
MX and TXT records protect email
MX records tell the internet which service receives email for the domain. TXT records often hold verification and email-authentication values.
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are TXT-based email protections that help prevent spoofing and improve trust when the business sends mail.
Verification records prove ownership
Google Search Console, email providers, analytics tools, and hosting platforms may ask for verification records.
These records should be documented. Random verification records with no notes become hard to evaluate later.
Redirects are not the same as DNS
DNS gets visitors to a destination. Redirects tell browsers that one URL should move to another URL.
A clean launch usually needs both: correct DNS and a redirect plan for old URLs, alternate domains, and the preferred canonical version of the site.