An A record maps a name to an IPv4 address. A CNAME points to another name. MX records identify the servers that receive email for the domain.
Record existing values before changing them. Change only the records required for your goal; website and email settings do not necessarily point to the same place.
What does each record do?
| Type | Feladat | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Name → IPv4 address | example.com → 192.0.2.10 |
| AAAA | Name → IPv6 address | example.com → 2001:db8::10 |
| CNAME | Alias → another name | www.example.com → example.com |
| MX | Incoming mail destination | 10 mail.example.com |
| TXT | Text validation data | The validation value supplied by the provider |
Safe changes, step by step
- Check which provider's nameservers actually manage the domain.
- Save the current records, including their TTLs.
- Update the required record using the details you were given. Do not delete email records just to point the website elsewhere.
- Check the saved value, then later test the website and email from another network too.
Example: new web hosting, unchanged email
If only the website is moving, update the web hostnames' targets using the provider's details. Do not delete MX, SPF, DKIM or DMARC records just because you received a new web IP address. Check the root domain and www separately, as they may resolve through different records.
- Record the nameservers and export the zone.
- Check which records serve the root domain and www, including the IPv6 AAAA record.
- Change only the relevant web targets.
- After checking DNS, also verify HTTPS and receipt of an external test email.
