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AWS DNS Record Types Explained
Govardhana M K
February 24, 2025
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🧠 Use Case
AWS DNS Record Types Explained
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🧠 USE CASE
AWS DNS Record Types Explained
DNS records define how domain names map to IP addresses and services.
If you’re working with AWS and managing domains knowing the right DNS record type is mandatory.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones and where they actually come into play.
Download a high resolution pdf of this diagram here for future reference.
A Record
This is the most basic and widely used DNS record.
It maps a domain name to an IPv4 address.
If you type google. com in your browser and it loads a webpage, that’s the A record at work.
Used for: Websites, application endpoints, API servers.
AAAA Record
Think of this as the A record’s IPv6 version.
Instead of mapping to an IPv4 address, it resolves a domain to an IPv6 address.
Used for: Modern cloud native applications, IPv6 only networks.
CNAME Record
CNAME stands for Canonical Name. Instead of pointing directly to an IP, it redirects one domain to another.
A common example is websiteA. com pointing to websiteB. com.
Used for: Subdomain redirection, pointing to third-party services (like AWS CloudFront, CDN providers).
MX Record
Mail Exchange (MX) records tell the world where to send emails for your domain.
If you’ve ever set up a custom email domain with services like Gmail or Microsoft 365, you’ve dealt with MX records.
Used for: Email hosting, mail servers.
NS Record
This one tells the internet which DNS servers are authoritative for your domain.
When you register a domain, you typically get a set of name servers (like Route 53) to manage your DNS records.
Used for: Domain ownership, DNS delegation.
PTR Record
While most DNS records map a domain to an IP, a PTR (Pointer) record does the opposite - it maps an IP back to a domain.
This is often used for reverse DNS lookups, mainly for email validation and logging.
Used for: Email authentication, network troubleshooting.
SOA Record
The Start of Authority (SOA) record is the first DNS record created for a domain.
It holds administrative details like the primary name server, the domain admin’s email, and refresh timers.
Used for: DNS zone management, domain configurations.
SPF Record
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records specify which mail servers can send emails on behalf of your domain.
It helps prevent spoofing, where attackers send fake emails pretending to be you.
Used for: Email security, preventing spam and phishing attacks.
SRV Record
Unlike other records that point domains to IPs, an SRV record helps locate specific services running on a domain. SRV tells clients which host and port to use.
Used for: SIP (VoIP services), Microsoft Active Directory, messaging protocols.
TXT Record
A TXT record stores arbitrary text - often used for domain ownership verification, email security (like SPF, DKIM, DMARC), or even API authentication.
Used for: Google Search Console, AWS domain verification, email security.
CAA Record
The CAA (Certificate Authority Authorization) record tells which certificate authorities (CAs) are allowed to issue SSL certificates for your domain.
If you don’t want random CAs issuing certs, this record locks it down.
Used for: SSL/TLS security, preventing unauthorized certificate issuance.
NAPTR Record
NAPTR (Naming Authority Pointer) records are a rarely used but important type for advanced service discovery.
They help with things like redirecting VoIP calls or handling complex telecom services.
Used for: SIP (VoIP) routing, mobile network protocols.
Whether setting up Route 53 for custom domains, configuring API gateways, securing emails, or handling service discovery.
Knowing when to use each record makes troubleshooting easier and ensures your infrastructure is properly set up.
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