DNS Records (NS, A, MX, CNAME, SPF) Explained

The most widely used DNS record types, and their purpose are as follows:

  • A - specifies IP addresses corresponding to your domain and its subdomains;
  • MX - specifies where the emails for your domain should be delivered;
  • CNAME - specifies redirects from your domain's subdomains to other domains / subdomains;
  • TXT - these records are used to store text-based information related to your domain. One of their most common uses is for SPF data. SPF, or Sender Policy Framework, is an attempt to control forged e-mail.

All your domain's DNS records are stored in its DNS zone. Where its active DNS zone is located is determined by the domain's name servers. In turn, a domain's name servers are set with the domain's registrar.

While using SiteGround's name servers your domain will be pointed to your hosting account, and its active DNS zone will be situated on your SiteGround host server. You will be able to manage your domain's DNS records with the DNS Zone Editor in cPanel.

You can find your hosting account's name servers in your User Area -> My Accounts -> Information & Settings, under the hosting account you will be pointing the domain to.

In case you need to look up your domain's current DNS records, there are various online tools to do so. One example is this website.

  • MX Records, DNS, A records
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