There are dozens of DNS record types defined in RFC specifications, but the six checked by this tool cover the vast majority of what you will ever need to look up. Here is what each one does.
A Record (IPv4 Address)The most fundamental DNS record — it maps a domain name to an IPv4 address. When someone types your domain into a browser, the A record tells their browser which server to connect to. Most domains have at least one A record.
AAAA Record (IPv6 Address)The IPv6 equivalent of the A record. As IPv4 addresses run out, more domains are adding AAAA records to support the newer protocol. A domain can have both A and AAAA records simultaneously.
MX Record (Mail Exchange)Specifies the mail server responsible for accepting email for the domain. MX records include a priority value — lower numbers mean higher priority. Essential for anyone setting up email with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or any other mail provider.
TXT Record (Text)Stores arbitrary text data, but in practice it is used for domain verification (proving you own the domain to Google, Microsoft, etc.), SPF records (specifying which servers can send email on your behalf), and DKIM signatures. The most versatile record type.
CNAME Record (Canonical Name)Creates an alias from one domain name to another. Commonly used to point subdomains like www.example.com to example.com, or to point a custom domain to a hosted service like Shopify or Heroku.
NS Record (Name Server)Specifies the authoritative name servers for the domain. When you register a domain, you configure its NS records to point to your DNS provider (Cloudflare, Route53, etc.). These records tell the global DNS system where to look for all other records.