DNS records explained
What a DNS record is, what A, CNAME and TXT mean, which ones Jukto asks for, how long changes take to spread, and how to check them.
DNS is the phone book of the internet. When someone types shop.yourbrand.com, DNS tells their phone which server holds your website. A DNS record is one line in that phone book. To connect your domain you add two or three such lines at the place that manages your domain's DNS.
Before you start#
- You know where your DNS is managed. It is usually the company where you bought the domain (your registrar), or Cloudflare if you moved your nameservers there. If you bought the domain through Jukto, it is Settings > Domain > My domains > DNS and nameservers.
- You have the exact values from Settings > Domain: Connect your own domain.
The records you will meet#
| Type | What it is | Example | What Jukto uses it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Points a name to an IPv4 address | example.com -> 203.0.113.10 | Points your bare domain (example.com) to Jukto |
| AAAA | The same, for an IPv6 address | Not needed. Remove other A or AAAA records for the name you connect | |
| CNAME | Says "this name is an alias of another name" | shop.example.com -> a Jukto host name | Points a subdomain (shop.example.com) to Jukto |
| TXT | A piece of text attached to a name | _jukto-verify.example.com -> jukto-verify=... | Proves that you own the domain |
| MX | Where email for the domain goes | Not used by Jukto. Leave your email records alone |
Name, value and TTL#
- Name (host): which name the record is for.
@means the bare domain,wwworshopmeans a subdomain. Many providers add your domain automatically, so type only the part before it. - Value: where it points, or the text. Copy it from Jukto with the Copy button.
- TTL: how long other computers may remember the record. Use the default or "Auto".
How long does it take?#
After you save a record, it must spread. It is often a few minutes, and sometimes a few hours. Until then Jukto shows "Not found yet". This is normal: wait, then press Check DNS now. Jukto also re-checks by itself every hour.
Check your records#
- 1
Look at Jukto's own check
On Settings > Domain each record shows Found or Not found, and "Last check saw" lists what Jukto actually found (the TXT values, the CNAME, the A records). Compare it with the values you were given.
- 2
Read the message
The page explains the problem in words: the TXT was not found yet, the TXT has an old value, the A or CNAME points somewhere else, or the lookup failed.
- 3
Fix and recheck
Correct the record at your DNS provider, wait a few minutes, and press Re-check DNS.
What the messages mean#
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| TXT record was not found yet | Wait and recheck. Check the name and the value for typos |
| TXT found but not the current value | Copy the value again from Jukto. Delete an old TXT value you no longer need |
| A / CNAME record points somewhere else | Use the value Jukto shows, remove the other records for that name, and keep it "DNS only" |
| The DNS lookup failed | A temporary problem. Try again in a few minutes |
Common problems#
I added the record but Jukto still says not found
Wait a few minutes, then press Check DNS now. If it is still not found after an hour, check the name and the value, and that you edited the DNS of the provider that your domain really uses.
Where are my DNS settings?
They are at the company that runs your nameservers. Look at your domain's nameserver names: if they name Cloudflare, edit them in Cloudflare, not at your registrar.
Will my email stop working?
Not by this change. You add a TXT and an A or CNAME record. Do not delete your MX records.
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