Encyclopedia / Domain & network
DNS records
The entries in a domain's phone-book listing.
A maps a name to an IPv4 address, and AAAA to IPv6. CNAME points one name at another name. MX says where email goes. TXT holds text, often used to prove you own the domain (for Google Search Console, for example).
example.com. A 76.76.21.21
www.example.com. CNAME cname.vercel-dns.com.
example.com. TXT "google-site-verification=…"Related terms
Where it shows up in a page load
- Step 2: DNS lookup. The browser asks a DNS resolver, the internet's phone book, for example.com. The resolver follows the chain from the root servers to the domain's nameservers and returns an IP address. The answer is cached so the next visit skips this step.
Watch the full request journey →
More in Domain & network
How a name like example.com turns into a secure connection to a real machine.