A and AAAA: The IPv4 and IPv6 addresses a name points to. These are the records that decide where browsers connect.
CNAME: An alias to another name. Common for CDNs and hosted services; the alias target then provides the addresses.
MX: The servers that receive mail for the domain, with their priority. Lower numbers are tried first.
TXT: Free text used for SPF, DKIM, DMARC and domain verification. A broken SPF record is a frequent reason for mail landing in spam.
NS and SOA: The name servers responsible for the zone and its serial number. A serial that does not change after an edit means the zone was not reloaded.
CAA: Which certificate authorities may issue certificates for the domain. A missing entry means any authority may.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the lookup run?
The query runs from m0nitor servers in Germany. Answers may come from a resolver cache, so a change can take up to the TTL of the old record to show.
Why do I see different results elsewhere?
Resolvers cache records for their TTL. Until it runs out, different resolvers can return the old and the new value side by side.
How do I check my mail setup?
Look up the MX records to see which servers receive mail, and the TXT records for SPF, DKIM and DMARC entries.
Can I monitor a DNS record?
Yes. A DNS monitor in m0nitor checks a record from several regions on a schedule and alerts you when the answer changes or stops resolving.