In this article · 10 sections
- What is DNS?
- The main record types
- A and CNAME: where your website lives
- MX: where your email goes
- TXT: verification and email security
- Nameservers: who's in charge
- TTL and propagation
- Safe habits
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is my website working on Wi-Fi but not on mobile data?
- Can I point my domain to two different hosts?
- What is a subdomain?
- Is changing nameservers risky?
- Need help with DNS?
Most business owners never touch DNS — until something breaks. The website stops loading after a hosting change, emails stop arriving, or Google asks you to "add a TXT record" to verify your domain. Understanding the basic record types makes these moments much less stressful, and helps you check what your developer or hosting company is doing.
What is DNS?
DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet's phone directory. People type yourbusiness.com; DNS looks up which server that name belongs to and sends visitors there. It also tells other mail servers where to deliver email for your domain.
Your DNS records are managed at your DNS provider — usually your domain registrar, your hosting company, or a service like Cloudflare. Which one depends on your nameservers.
The main record types
| Record | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| NS | Says which DNS provider controls the domain | ns1.dns-parking.com |
| A | Points a name to an IPv4 server address | @ → 192.0.2.10 |
| AAAA | Points a name to an IPv6 address | @ → 2001:db8::10 |
| CNAME | Points a name to another name | www → yourbusiness.com |
| MX | Says which servers receive email | @ → mx1.zoho.in (priority 10) |
| TXT | Holds text for verification and email security | google-site-verification=…, SPF |
| CAA | Says which certificate authorities may issue SSL | 0 issue "letsencrypt.org" |
The "@" symbol means the root domain itself (yourbusiness.com).
A and CNAME: where your website lives
Typically the root domain has an A record pointing to your hosting server's IP address, and www is a CNAME pointing to the root domain (or another A record). When you change hosting, these are the records that change. See moving to new hosting.
MX: where your email goes
MX records are separate from website records. Your website can be on Hostinger while email is on Google Workspace or Zoho. Each provider gives you specific MX records with priorities — lower numbers are tried first. If MX records are wrong or missing, incoming email fails or bounces.
TXT: verification and email security
TXT records are used for:
- Domain verification — Google Search Console, Google Workspace, Meta Business, Microsoft.
- SPF — lists which servers may send email for your domain, e.g.
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all. - DKIM — a signature key that proves emails weren't altered.
- DMARC — a policy telling receivers what to do with emails that fail checks.
Without SPF, DKIM and DMARC, your emails — including website form notifications — are more likely to land in spam. Since 2024, Gmail and Yahoo require proper authentication for bulk senders. Our guide on business email setup explains each step.
Important: a domain should have only one SPF record. If you use several services, combine them in one line.
Nameservers: who's in charge
If your domain uses your registrar's nameservers, you edit DNS at the registrar. If it uses Hostinger's or Cloudflare's nameservers, you edit DNS there. Editing records at the wrong place is a common mistake — the changes simply have no effect.
TTL and propagation
Each record has a TTL (time to live), the number of seconds other servers may cache it. After a change, some visitors may see the old setting until their cache expires. This "propagation" usually takes minutes to a few hours, occasionally longer.
Safe habits
- Screenshot or export all records before changing anything.
- Change one thing at a time.
- Never delete records you don't understand — ask first.
- Use online DNS lookup tools to check what the world sees.
- Keep registrar and DNS logins with two-factor authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my website working on Wi-Fi but not on mobile data?
Often DNS caching after a change. Wait a few hours, or check that both A records (root and www) are correct.
Can I point my domain to two different hosts?
The website can only point to one place at a time, but email (MX) can be with a different provider from the website (A record).
What is a subdomain?
A prefix like blog.yourbusiness.com or shop.yourbusiness.com, created with its own A or CNAME record.
Is changing nameservers risky?
Only if records aren't copied first. Copy every existing record — especially MX and TXT — to the new provider before switching.
Need help with DNS?
Joboo Web configures domains, DNS and business email correctly. See domain registration, hosting or contact us.