A, CNAME, MX and TXT records explained

A, CNAME, MX and TXT are four of the most common DNS record types, and together they cover most of what a domain needs to work. In short: an A record points a hostname to an IPv4 address, a CNAME points one hostname at another hostname, an MX record tells the world which server handles your email, and a TXT record stores arbitrary text used for verification and email authentication. This guide explains each one with real example values and shows where to edit them in cPanel.

How DNS records fit together

DNS is the system that translates a human friendly name like example.com into the address a browser or mail server actually connects to. Every domain has a zone file, and each line in that zone is a record with a type, a name (host), a value, and a TTL (time to live, in seconds) that controls how long resolvers cache the answer. When you change a record, the old value can persist until the TTL expires, so allow time for propagation.

A record: name to IPv4 address

An A (Address) record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address. It is what makes your website reachable. The root of the domain and the www host both typically resolve through A records (or, for www, sometimes a CNAME). On a dedicated Class C IP account, this A record is where you point the domain at your assigned address.

Name        Type   Value           TTL
@           A      203.0.113.10    14400
www         A      203.0.113.10    14400

The related AAAA record does the same job for IPv6 addresses. If you move a site to a new server, updating the A record is usually the key change.

CNAME record: one name aliases another

A CNAME (Canonical Name) record points a hostname at another hostname rather than at an IP. Resolvers then look up the target and follow its A record. This is handy for subdomains that should always track wherever the main name goes.

Name        Type    Value
www         CNAME   example.com.
shop        CNAME   stores.provider.net.

Two rules matter. A CNAME cannot coexist with other records for the same name, so the zone root (@) normally cannot be a CNAME; use an A record there instead. Also, the target should end with a trailing dot when entered as a fully qualified name.

MX record: where email is delivered

An MX (Mail Exchange) record names the server that accepts mail for your domain. Each MX has a priority number; lower numbers are tried first, and equal numbers share load. The MX points to a hostname (not an IP), and that hostname needs its own A record.

Name    Type   Priority   Value
@       MX     10         mail.example.com.
@       MX     20         backup-mail.example.com.

MX records only control incoming routing. To keep your outgoing mail out of spam folders, pair them with the TXT based authentication records below.

TXT record: verification and email authentication

A TXT record holds free form text. Search engines and other services use TXT records to verify domain ownership, but their most important modern use is email authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC all live in TXT records.

Name        Type   Value
@           TXT    "v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all"
_dmarc      TXT    "v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com"

SPF lists which servers may send for your domain, DKIM adds a cryptographic signature, and DMARC tells receivers what to do when a message fails. Together they are one of the strongest levers you have over deliverability. See our email deliverability guides for the full setup.

Editing these records in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel and, in the Domains section, open Zone Editor.
2. Find the domain you want to edit and click Manage.
3. Use + Add Record to create a record, choosing the type (A, CNAME, MX or TXT).
4. Enter the name, value, priority (for MX), and TTL, then save.
5. To change an existing entry, click Edit, update the value, and save.

After saving, allow the TTL period plus normal propagation time before expecting the change everywhere. If your DNS is hosted elsewhere, make the edits at that provider instead. For more on IP and zone management on a dedicated address, see our DNS and IP management hub, and the authoritative DNS terminology reference (RFC 9499) for precise definitions. Questions about your specific account can go to our team through the contact page.