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An A record stores an IPv4 address, a CNAME record stores another DNS name, and a TXT record stores text. The record type determines how that value is interpreted: a CNAME target is looked up in DNS, while TXT content is data for a service—not a web destination.
What a DNS record contains
A DNS record is typed information associated with a DNS name and held by authoritative DNS servers. When a device needs to find a service, a recursive resolver looks up the relevant records on the client’s behalf. It consults DNS servers along the hierarchy—typically from the root, to the top-level domain, and then to the domain’s authoritative servers—and may use cached answers. Google Cloud’s DNS overview describes this lookup process.
The name a record belongs to is sometimes called its owner name. Its type tells DNS how to interpret the record’s data. The same hostname can have different record types for different purposes, subject to rules such as the CNAME restriction described below.
How A, CNAME, and TXT records differ
| Type | What the value represents | Typical use | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | An IPv4 address | Direct a hostname to an IPv4 endpoint | Stores an address, not a URL. |
| CNAME | Another DNS name | Alias a hostname to a target managed elsewhere | The target name is resolved separately; it is not an IP address. |
| TXT | One or more text strings | Domain verification or email-authentication data | The requesting service interprets the text; it does not direct a browser to a site. |
These are illustrative examples, not live DNS records:
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www.example.test A 192.0.2.10— the A record’s value is an IPv4 address.shop.example.test CNAME storefront.example.net— the CNAME’s value is a DNS name._verify.example.test TXT "verification-token"— the TXT record holds text that a verification service may check.
What an A record points to
An A record maps a DNS name to an IPv4 address. For example, if a service tells you to create an A record with a particular IPv4 address, that address—not a web address beginning with https://—belongs in the value field. The record identifies an address; it does not specify a page or URL.
For IPv6, the corresponding record type is AAAA. Use the type and address supplied for the service rather than substituting one record type for another. Cloudflare’s DNS record guide explains A, AAAA, CNAME, and TXT records.
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What a CNAME points to—and why a lookup may show an IP
A CNAME stores another DNS name, often called its canonical name or target. It does not store an IP address, URL, or redirect instruction. RFC 1035 defines CNAME data as “A <domain-name> which specifies the canonical or primary name for the owner. The owner name is an alias.” See RFC 1035.
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When a resolver encounters a CNAME, it can continue the lookup at the target name and return the target’s relevant records. That process is why a DNS query involving a CNAME may ultimately produce an IP address even though the CNAME itself contains a name. Google describes this as CNAME chasing: the returned address is the result of resolving the target, not the CNAME’s stored value.
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Where CNAMEs can be used
A CNAME is commonly used to make one hostname an alias for another hostname managed by a service. Enter the target name exactly as the service specifies. If you have an IP address rather than a DNS name, a CNAME is not the right record type.
Why a CNAME usually cannot share a name with other records
Under the usual DNS rule, a name with a CNAME cannot also have other ordinary DNS data at that same name. This prevents a CNAME from coexisting there with records such as A or TXT. MX and NS records must not point to a CNAME alias either. These are DNS rules, not merely limitations of a particular provider interface; RFC 1034 sets out the CNAME constraints.
Zone apexes and provider-specific alternatives
The zone apex is the domain’s root name—for example, example.com, rather than www.example.com. DNS standards do not define a universal ordinary CNAME-at-apex solution because the apex also has required zone data. Some DNS providers offer features such as ALIAS/ANAME records or CNAME flattening to handle this case. These are provider-specific behaviors, not interchangeable standard DNS record types. Check your DNS provider’s documentation before using one; Cloudflare’s CNAME flattening documentation describes its implementation.
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A TXT record contains text strings. A service may ask you to publish a particular value to prove control of a domain, or to publish email-authentication data. The service that requested the record defines what the text means. TXT is not a generic way to route website traffic, redirect a browser, or point a name to an IP address.
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Copy the requested name and value carefully, including punctuation and any required quotation marks as represented in your DNS provider’s interface. Provider forms differ, so follow the service’s instructions for which part belongs in the name field and which part belongs in the content or value field.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How TTL affects DNS changes
TTL, or time to live, is a cache interval measured in seconds. It tells resolvers how long they may retain a DNS answer before they should discard it and look again. If a record changes, a resolver may continue returning an earlier cached answer until the relevant cached data expires. How quickly a change appears can depend on the configured TTL, previously cached answers, resolver behavior, and provider setup; there is no single propagation time that applies everywhere. Cloudflare’s TTL reference explains the setting.
Choose the record type from the value you were given
- If the requested value is an IPv4 address, use an A record.
- If it is an IPv6 address, use an AAAA record.
- If it is another hostname, use a CNAME only where DNS rules and your provider’s interface permit it.
- If the service supplied text for verification or email authentication, use a TXT record.
When a setup guide uses shorthand such as “point your domain here,” look for the exact record type, name, and value it specifies. The value’s format—and the record type—determine what DNS will do with it.
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