DNS can sound intimidating, but the core idea is simple. This guide demystifies the most common record types so you can manage your domain with confidence.
What DNS is
DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet's address book. It translates a human-friendly name like yoursite.com into the numeric IP address computers use to find your server. DNS records are the individual entries that tell the internet where different services live.
The main record types
- A record: Points a domain or subdomain to an IPv4 address. This is what sends visitors to your website.
- CNAME record: Points one name to another name (an alias). Often used for
wwwso it follows your root domain. - MX record: Directs email to the right mail servers. Without correct MX records, email will not arrive.
- TXT record: Stores text used for verification and email security, such as SPF and domain ownership checks.
Example records
; Type Name Value TTL
A @ 203.0.113.10 3600
CNAME www yoursite.com 3600
MX @ mail.yoursite.com 3600 (priority 10)
TXT @ "v=spf1 include:hostbox.me ~all" 3600What TTL means
TTL (Time To Live) tells the internet how long to cache a record, in seconds. A lower TTL means changes spread faster but slightly increases lookups. A common value is 3600 (one hour).
Planning a change? Lower the TTL a day in advance so your update takes effect quickly when you make it.
Managing records in Hostbox
You can manage DNS records right from your Hostbox dashboard. For a smoother experience, Hostbox also offers a one-click Cloudflare DNS integration: connect your own Cloudflare account and manage records with faster propagation and built-in protection.
Go to your domain in the Hostbox dashboard.
Find the DNS section, or click "Add to Cloudflare" to use the one-click integration.
Choose the record type, fill in the values, and save.
Questions about a specific record? We are happy to help at /support.