What Is DNS Records?
DNS records are configuration entries stored on authoritative DNS servers that define how your domain behaves. Each record type serves a specific purpose, and together they control where your website is hosted, where email is delivered, and how your domain is verified by third-party services.
The most common DNS record types are: A Record (maps domain to IPv4 address), AAAA Record (maps domain to IPv6 address), CNAME (creates an alias to another domain), MX Record (specifies mail server), TXT Record (stores text data, used for verification and email security), and NS Record (specifies authoritative nameservers).
DNS records are managed through your domain registrar or DNS provider's control panel. Changes typically propagate across the internet within minutes to hours, depending on TTL (Time To Live) settings.
A record → web server, MX records → email provider, TXT records → domain verification, CNAME → subdomains to hosted services.
Why This Matters for Startups
You'll configure DNS records multiple times as your startup grows: pointing your domain to your hosting provider (A/CNAME), setting up business email (MX), verifying ownership for Google Search Console and other tools (TXT), and connecting subdomains to various services (CNAME). Keep a document listing all your DNS records and what they do — it saves enormous debugging time when something breaks at 2 AM before a product launch.
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