The DNS Zone Editor is a tool that lets you manage your domain's DNS records (such as A, CNAME, MX and TXT) directly. In this guide, we explain what each record type is used for and how to add or edit records in the DNS Zone Editor.
What Are DNS Record Types Used For?
A Record
Points a subdomain or the main domain directly to an IP address. For example, an A record is used to point www.yourdomain.com to your server's IP address. It is the most fundamental record, as it determines which server serves a domain's website.
CNAME Record
Points a subdomain to another domain name (hostname) instead of an IP address. For example, a CNAME is used when you want to point blog.yourdomain.com to a third-party platform (e.g., a blogging service). A name that has a CNAME record cannot have any other record type (e.g., A or MX) at the same time.
MX Record
Specifies which mail server should receive the email sent to your domain. Multiple MX records can be defined; each one is given a priority value, and a lower number means a higher priority. To avoid interrupting your email flow, it is important to define the primary and backup servers in the correct order when changing MX records.
TXT Record
Holds text-based information about the domain; its most common uses are verifying domain ownership (Google Search Console, Microsoft 365, etc.) and defining SPF/DKIM/DMARC records for email security.
Adding a Record in the DNS Zone Editor (cPanel)
- Log in to cPanel and open the "Zone Editor" tool.
- Click the "Manage" button next to the relevant domain.
- Click "Add Record" and choose the type of record you want to add: "A", "CNAME", "MX" or "TXT".
- Name: enter the subdomain the record applies to; Record (Points to/Content): enter the target IP address, hostname or text.
- If you do not change the TTL value, the default value is used; we recommend not setting the TTL too high, so that later changes to the record are not delayed.
- Click the "Save" button to apply the change.
Adding a DNS Record in Plesk
In Plesk, the same operation is done under Websites & Domains > DNS Settings. Click the "Add Record" button, select the record type (A/CNAME/MX/TXT), then enter the domain name, the target value and, if required, the MX priority, and save.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting or adding an extra trailing dot: For CNAME and MX targets, some panels require a dot (.) at the end of the hostname; the panel interface usually adds it automatically, but be careful when entering it manually.
- Adding both an A record and a CNAME for the same name: According to the DNS standard, a name cannot have both a CNAME and another record type at the same time.
- Entering MX priorities in reverse: Giving the backup server a lower priority number than the primary server causes mail to go to the wrong server first.
- Expecting immediate results after a change: Like NS changes, DNS record changes propagate over a certain period (minutes to hours, depending on the TTL).
Testing the Change
After adding a record, you can check that it has propagated correctly by running dig A yourdomain.com, dig MX yourdomain.com or dig TXT yourdomain.com from the command line, or check the record's current value with an online DNS lookup tool.
Conclusion
The DNS Zone Editor is a powerful tool that lets you manage your website, email and third-party integrations from a single place. Choosing the right record type and setting your priorities in the correct order is critical for keeping both your website and your email flow running without interruption.
If you want to manage your own DNS records with unlimited flexibility, take a look at our hosting plans; if you need more resources and control, check out our VPS server options.
