DNS is the system that translates a domain name into the actual server address a browser or email client needs to connect to. Most of the time you'll never need to touch it directly — but when you do, here's what the common record types actually do.
A record
Points a domain (or subdomain) directly to a server's IP address. This is the most common record controlling where your website lives — if your website isn't loading after a hosting change, an incorrect or outdated A record is usually the cause.
CNAME record
Points a subdomain to another domain name rather than an IP address directly — for example, pointing www.yoursite.com to yoursite.com, or pointing a subdomain at a third-party service. A CNAME can't be used on the root domain itself (yoursite.com without the www), only on subdomains.
MX record
Controls where email for your domain gets delivered. This is separate from your website's A record — a domain can be hosted with one provider and have its email routed somewhere else entirely, which is why moving your website doesn't automatically affect your email unless the MX records are also changed. Getting an MX record wrong is the single most common cause of email suddenly not arriving after a DNS change.
TXT record
A general-purpose record used for verification and authentication rather than routing traffic. Common uses include SPF and DKIM records (which help prevent your outgoing email from being marked as spam), and domain ownership verification for services like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
Why changes take time to apply
Every DNS record has a TTL (time-to-live) value, which tells other servers around the internet how long they're allowed to cache that record before checking for an update. Lower TTL values mean changes propagate faster but put slightly more load on DNS servers; higher values are more efficient but mean changes take longer to be visible everywhere. If you're planning a significant DNS change, it's worth lowering the TTL a day or two in advance so the eventual change propagates faster.
Editing DNS records
If your domain's DNS is managed through your WebAcumen client account, records can be edited under the Domains section of the portal. If you're not confident making the change yourself, submit a support ticket with what you're trying to achieve and we'll make the change for you.