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Understanding DNS records: A, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV

What the DNS records of your domain are for, when they are created and how to add your own.

2 minute read Updated 22.10.2026

In the client area under Domains, the Advanced view shows all DNS records of your domain. Here we explain what they are for – and what you should not delete.

The most important records

  • NS (nameserver) – defines who manages the records of your domain. ns1.nexus-servers.de and ns2.nexus-servers.de are locked because the domain would stop working otherwise.
  • A – links a name to an IPv4 address. @ is the domain itself, www the address with www. With an A record such as play → your game server’s IP, players reach the server at play.your-domain.com.
  • AAAA – like A, but for IPv6.
  • CNAME – an alias: www is then the same as the main domain.
  • MX – where e-mails to your domain are delivered.
  • TXT – text records. The most important ones:
    • v=spf1 … (SPF) – which servers may send e-mail on behalf of your domain. There may only be one SPF record per domain.
    • mail._domainkey (DKIM) – digital signature of your e-mails.
    • _dmarc (DMARC) – what should happen to forged mails from your domain.
    • Verifications for services such as Google or Discord.
  • SRV – tells programs on which server and port a service runs, e.g. for mail clients or Minecraft without a port.

When records are created

  • A new domain only contains the nameservers and the mail record.
  • “Connect domain to webspace” sets @ and www automatically.
  • “Enable e-mail” sets MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC and the SRV records for mail clients. If you turn e-mail off again, we remove these records.

Adding your own records

Below the table you’ll find templates (e.g. subdomain for a game server, Minecraft without port, Discord or Google verification). One click fills in the form, you only add the value. Please end domain names used as values with a dot, e.g. target.example.com..

Good to know

  • Changes usually take a few minutes, sometimes up to a few hours, to propagate.
  • If you switch the nameservers to another provider, the records here no longer apply – create them there again. We show you the list when you switch.
  • In the Simple view you set up website and e-mail with one click each, without individual records.
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