---
title: "DNS Records Explained: A, CNAME, MX, NS and TXT"
description: "**In short:** DNS records connect your domain to its services: an A record points the domain to your server's IP, CNAME creates an alias such as www or a subdomain, MX sets your email server, NS sets the nameservers responsible…"
url: "https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/dns-records-explained/"
updated: "2026-09-29"
category: Internet Domains
---

# DNS Records Explained: A, CNAME, MX, NS and TXT

**In short:** DNS records connect your domain to its services: an A record points the domain to your server's IP, CNAME creates an alias such as www or a subdomain, MX sets your email server, NS sets the nameservers responsible for the domain, and TXT holds text such as SPF. You edit them in the Zone Editor in cPanel.

![DNS records explained](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/DNS.jpg)

## What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is a distributed database on the internet that stores information about domain names, most importantly the IP address each domain points to. In other words, it translates names into the numbers (IP addresses) computers use. See also [what a domain name is](https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/what-is-a-domain-name/).

## The main DNS records

**A record:** points your domain name to the IP address of the server that hosts your website.

**NS record:** sets the nameservers responsible for your domain's DNS.

**CNAME record:** creates an alias for a name. For example, if example.com hosts your website, you can point web.example.com to it with a CNAME.

**MX record:** routes your email by pointing to your mail server, for example mail.example.com.

**TXT record:** stores text information, commonly SPF records that stop others from sending fake email that looks like it comes from you, as well as DKIM, DMARC and domain verification records.

**URL redirect record:** some DNS providers offer this to forward a domain to another website.

Moving your domain or hosting? See [how to migrate DNS without downtime](https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/migrate-dns-without-downtime/).

**Related service:** [Register your domain with Hyyat Host](https://www.hyyat.com/en/domains/) and manage all its DNS records from one control panel.

 **Need this service from Hyyat Host?**Our team handles it for you, with support replying to tickets within 24 hours at most.[Saudi domain reservation](https://www.hyyat.com/en/saudi-domain-reservation/)[Domain Availability Check](https://www.hyyat.com/en/domain-availability-check/)