DNS (Domain Name System) records are instructions stored on DNS servers that translate human-readable domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses and provide other domain configuration information. They are fundamental to how the internet works.
Common DNS Record Types
- A Record — Maps a domain to an IPv4 address (e.g.,
93.184.216.34). - AAAA Record — Maps a domain to an IPv6 address.
- CNAME Record — Creates an alias pointing to another domain name.
- MX Record — Specifies mail servers responsible for receiving email for the domain.
- TXT Record — Stores text information, commonly used for SPF, DKIM, and domain verification.
- NS Record — Specifies the authoritative name servers for the domain.
- SOA Record — Contains administrative information about the DNS zone.
DNS and WordPress
DNS records are important for WordPress sites in several ways:
- Hosting — A/AAAA records point your domain to your web server.
- Email — MX records ensure emails sent to your domain are delivered correctly.
- CDN — CNAME records can point to CDN providers like Cloudflare.
- Security — TXT records are used for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to prevent email spoofing.
- Verification — Google Search Console and other services use TXT records for domain verification.
DNS Propagation
When you change DNS records, the changes don't take effect immediately. DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, depending on the TTL (Time to Live) settings of your records.
What InspectWP Checks
InspectWP retrieves and displays the DNS records for your WordPress site's domain, including A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, and CNAME records. This helps you verify your DNS configuration and identify potential issues.