DNS records are one of the core concepts you will encounter when launching a website or configuring email services. So what exactly are DNS records and why are they so important? Whether you are running a personal blog or managing an enterprise-level hosting infrastructure, understanding DNS structure directly affects your site performance, email delivery, and security.
DNS (Domain Name System) can be thought of as the internet's phone book. When we type a domain name into the browser — for example, iyibir.net — DNS servers translate this domain name into the server's IP address behind the scenes. This way, your browser connects to the right server and displays your website. Without DNS, you would need to memorize long IP addresses (e.g., 185.22.174.55) to access every website.
The DNS system forms the foundation of hosting services. When you rent a VDS server or virtual server, you need to properly configure DNS records to point your domain to that server. Companies offering Turkey VDS services typically allow you to easily manage this configuration through their control panel.
DNS management involves several record types, each serving a different purpose. Knowing these record types is highly useful for properly running your hosting infrastructure.
The A record is the most fundamental block of DNS. It points a domain name directly to an IPv4 address. This is the record that enables your website to connect to its hosting server. For example, you would use an A record to connect the domain "example.com" to an IP address like 185.22.174.55. When renting a virtual server, the first thing you need to do is point your domain's A record to your server's IP address.
When you change servers — for example, when switching from shared hosting to a VDS server — the A record is the first thing you need to update. Once you enter the new server's IP address into the A record, your domain will start pointing to the new server within a few hours.
The AAAA record is the IPv6 version of the A record. With the evolution of internet protocols, IPv6 addresses are becoming increasingly common. Modern hosting providers support both IPv4 and IPv6. If your server has an IPv6 address, you can link it to your domain using an AAAA record.
A CNAME record is an alias that points one domain name to another domain name. Its most common use is pointing the "www" subdomain to the main domain. For example, a CNAME record is used to redirect "www.example.com" to "example.com".
CNAME records are also frequently used in CDN services, cloud-based hosting solutions, and third-party service integrations. When you want to add a subdomain to a project running on a virtual server, the CNAME record is very useful.
The MX record determines which mail server incoming emails to your domain should be directed to. If you plan to use email services with your hosting, proper MX record configuration is essential. You can create a redundant email infrastructure by adding multiple MX records; the server with the lowest priority value is used as the primary.
Email reliability is critical in enterprise hosting solutions. When you use professional email services like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, you need to point your MX records to the respective provider's servers.
A TXT record allows you to add text-based information to your domain. This record type is especially used for security and verification purposes. Email security protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC work through TXT records. Additionally, you may be asked to add a TXT record to verify domain ownership in Google Search Console or third-party services.
Properly configuring TXT records to enhance your hosting security is crucial for preventing spam emails and protecting your domain from abuse.
The NS record indicates which DNS servers manage your domain. When you point your domain to a hosting provider, you need to define that provider's NS servers in your domain registrar panel. NS records are the fundamental records that determine which server all other DNS records will be resolved from.
An SRV record defines which server and port specific services run on. Specialized applications like VoIP, chat services, or game servers utilize SRV records. If you are running custom services on a VDS server, you may need to configure SRV records.
Changes you make to DNS records do not take effect immediately; they take time to propagate across DNS servers worldwide. This is called DNS propagation and can typically take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours. It is important to keep this in mind when changing hosting or migrating servers.
The TTL (Time to Live) value determines how long DNS records are kept in cache. Lowering the TTL value before making server changes can help speed up the transition process.
There are several ways to manage DNS records:
If you are using a virtual server or VDS server, you can also manage your DNS records through the DNS service on the server (such as BIND or PowerDNS). Turkey VDS providers generally offer technical support for this configuration.
Errors in DNS configuration can lead to serious problems. Here are the most common mistakes:
DNS records are critical building blocks for the seamless operation of your website and email services. When getting hosting services — whether you choose shared hosting, a virtual server, or a VDS server — setting up DNS properly directly affects your site accessibility and security. Once you understand basic record types like A, CNAME, MX, TXT, and NS, you can manage your hosting infrastructure much more effectively and quickly resolve potential issues.
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