You just bought a new domain name. You are excited to launch your website. But when you log into your control panel, you are greeted by a confusing table full of acronyms: A, CNAME, MX, TXT, TTL.
One wrong click here can take your website offline or stop your emails from arriving.
Fear not. The Domain Name System (DNS) is often called the “Phonebook of the Internet,” and it is actually quite logical once you understand the basic components.
In this guide, we will demystify the four most important DNS records you need to know to manage your Domain Name and Web Hosting like a pro.
What is DNS? (The 30-Second Explanation)
Computers communicate using numbers (IP Addresses, like 192.168.1.1). Humans communicate using names (Domain Names, like vpspioneer.com).
DNS is the translator. When you type a domain into your browser, DNS looks up the specific IP address associated with that name so your browser can load the website.
The “DNS Records” are simply the lines in that phonebook telling the internet where to go for specific services.
1. The “A” Record (Address Record)
This is the king of DNS records. The A Record maps a domain name directly to an IPv4 Address.
- What it does: It tells the browser, “The website files for
example.comare located on the server with IP93.184.216.34.” - When to use it: You must set this up to get your website online.
- Example Configuration:
| Type | Host / Name | Value / Points to | TTL |
| A | @ (Root) | 192.0.2.1 | 3600 |
Note: The “@” symbol usually represents your root domain (e.g., just yourdomain.com without the www).
2. The “CNAME” Record (Canonical Name)
The CNAME is an alias. It maps one domain name to another domain name, rather than an IP address.
- What it does: It says, “If anyone asks for
www.example.com, send them to the same place asexample.com.” - When to use it: Commonly used for subdomains like
www,blog, orshop. - Why use it? If your server’s IP address changes, you only have to update the A Record. All your CNAMEs will automatically follow the new IP.
- Crucial Rule: You generally cannot create a CNAME for the root domain (
@). Use it only for subdomains.
| Type | Host / Name | Value / Points to | TTL |
| CNAME | www | example.com | 3600 |
3. The “MX” Record (Mail Exchange)
If the A Record is for websites, the MX Record is for email.
- What it does: It tells the internet, “If you have an email for
user@example.com, please deliver it to this specific mail server.” - Priority: You will notice a “Priority” number (e.g., 0, 10, 20). Lower numbers have higher priority. If the main server (0) is down, the sender tries the next one (10).
- When to use it: When setting up business email (e.g., Google Workspace, Outlook, or VPSPioneer Webmail).
| Type | Host / Name | Priority | Value / Points to |
| MX | @ | 10 | https://www.google.com/search?q=mail.vpspioneer.com |
4. The “TXT” Record (Text)
Originally designed to hold human-readable notes, the TXT Record is now the Swiss Army Knife of verification and security.
- What it does: It provides text information to sources outside your domain.
- Common Uses:
- Ownership Verification: Google Search Console or Facebook Business often ask you to add a TXT record to prove you own the domain.
- Email Security (SPF/DKIM): These records tell receiving mail servers (like Gmail) that your emails are legitimate and not spam.
| Type | Host / Name | Value / Points to |
| TXT | @ | v=spf1 include:_https://www.google.com/search?q=spf.google.com ~all |
What is TTL? (Time To Live)
You will see a column named TTL, usually measured in seconds (e.g., 3600 or 14400).
This tells servers around the world how long to “cache” (remember) the information.
- High TTL (86400 = 24 hours): Good for stable sites. It reduces load on your DNS server.
- Low TTL (300 = 5 minutes): Use this before you migrate your website. It ensures that when you change your IP, the world sees the change quickly.
The “Propagation” Delay: When you change a DNS record, it doesn’t happen instantly everywhere. It can take anywhere from 1 hour to 48 hours for the update to spread across the globe. This is called DNS Propagation.
How to Manage DNS at VPSPioneer
Managing these records is simple with VPSPioneer.
- For Web Hosting Users: Log in to cPanel. Look for the “Zone Editor”. Here you can add A, CNAME, and MX records with a simple interface.
- For Domain-Only Users: Log in to the Client Portal, go to Domains -> Manage DNS.
Whether you are connecting your domain to our high-performance Web Hosting or pointing it to a custom VPS, having clean, correct DNS records is the foundation of a healthy website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I have two A Records for the same domain? A: Technically yes, this is called “Round Robin DNS” and is used for load balancing. However, for most beginners, you should only have one A record for your root domain to avoid connection errors.
Q: I changed my A Record, but I still see the old site. Why? A: This is due to DNS Propagation or your local browser cache. Try clearing your browser cache or checking your site on a mobile network (4G/5G) to see if it has updated there.
Q: Do I need an MX record if I don’t use email? A: No. If you don’t plan to receive emails at your domain (e.g., info@yourdomain.com), you can leave the MX records blank.