🗂️ DNS Record Types Reference

Email depends on DNS at every step. MX records tell the internet where to deliver your mail. TXT records carry authentication policies: SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI, and MTA-STS. A and PTR records determine IP identity for spam filter checks. Each entry below includes format, examples, and RFC references.

📬 Email Delivery

Records that directly control where email is delivered and how sending IPs are identified.

MX email
Mail Exchanger
View reference →
PTR email
Pointer (Reverse DNS)
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🔐 Authentication (TXT)

TXT records that publish authentication and policy data for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI, and MTA-STS.

TXT email
Text Record
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TXT email
TXT Record — SPF
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TXT email
TXT Record — DKIM
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TXT email
TXT Record — DMARC
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TXT email
TXT Record — BIMI
View reference →
TXT email
TXT Record — MTA-STS
View reference →

📍 Address & Routing

Records that map hostnames to IP addresses, including CNAME aliases used in DKIM delegation.

A email
Address Record (IPv4)
View reference →
AAAA email
IPv6 Address Record
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CNAME email
Canonical Name
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🗄️ Zone Management

Administrative records that define zone authority and name server delegation.

NS
Name Server
View reference →
SOA
Start of Authority
View reference →

🔒 Security

Records that enforce TLS authentication (DANE/TLSA) and restrict certificate issuance (CAA).

TLSA email
TLS Authentication (DANE)
View reference →
CAA
Certification Authority Authorization
View reference →

🔍 Query DNS Records Live

Look up any of these record types for a domain using Google, Cloudflare, or Quad9 as your resolver.

DNS Lookup → DNS Propagation → MX Inspector →