Live Network Tools
DNS GUIDE

Hostname & DNS Records

Learn how to read A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT and PTR results from a hostname lookup.

SpeedMeter guide
01

A and AAAA Records

A records map hostnames to IPv4 addresses. AAAA records map hostnames to IPv6 addresses. A site can publish either or both.

02

MX Records

MX records identify mail-exchange hosts for a domain. Multiple records can have priorities so mail delivery can prefer one host over another.

03

NS Records

NS records name the authoritative DNS servers for a zone. They help show which providers are responsible for publishing the domain’s DNS data.

04

TXT Records

TXT records carry arbitrary text and are often used for SPF, DKIM-related verification, domain ownership, or service configuration.

05

PTR Records

PTR records perform reverse DNS: they map an IP address back to a hostname when the address owner has configured reverse DNS.

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