What is DNS Records?
DNS records for email are entries in your domain's DNS that configure mail delivery (MX), sender authentication (SPF, DKIM), and policies (DMARC) for your email domain.
DNS (Domain Name System) records are the configuration entries that control how your domain handles email. Several types of DNS records are essential for email operations.
MX (Mail Exchange) records specify which servers receive email for your domain. SPF records (TXT type) list which servers can send email on your behalf. DKIM records (TXT type) publish your public key for signature verification. DMARC records (TXT type) define your authentication policy. CNAME records are often used for tracking domains.
Properly configured DNS records are essential for email deliverability. Missing or incorrect records cause authentication failures, delivery problems, and leave your domain vulnerable to spoofing. Most email issues can be traced back to DNS configuration problems.
Why DNS Records Matters
DNS records are the foundation of email authentication and delivery. Without correct MX records, you can't receive email. Without SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, your outgoing emails may be rejected or marked as spam. Understanding DNS records is essential for anyone managing email infrastructure.
How Ark Handles DNS Records
When you add a domain to Ark, we generate all necessary DNS records and provide exact copy-paste instructions. Our domain verification checks that records are correctly configured and alerts you to any issues. We also monitor your DNS health over time to catch problems before they affect deliverability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What DNS records do I need for email?
At minimum: MX records to receive email, and SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for authentication. If you're only sending (not receiving), you may not need MX records. A tracking CNAME is needed for open/click tracking.
How long do DNS changes take to propagate?
DNS propagation typically takes 15 minutes to 48 hours depending on TTL (Time To Live) settings and DNS provider caching. Most changes propagate within a few hours. Lower TTL values mean faster propagation.
How do I check my DNS records?
Use online tools like MXToolbox, dig command (Linux/Mac), or nslookup (Windows). Ark's domain verification also checks your records and reports any issues.
Can I have multiple MX records?
Yes, and you should for redundancy. MX records have priority values—email is delivered to the lowest priority server first, with higher priority servers as backups if the primary fails.
Related Terms
SPF
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication method that specifies which mail servers ar...
DKIM
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication method that uses cryptographic signatur...
DMARC
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is an email authentication p...
Email Authentication
Email authentication is the process of verifying that an email was actually sent by the claimed send...
Ready to improve your email deliverability?
Ark handles dns records and more automatically. Start sending in 5 minutes.