Mx mail exchanger

A mail exchanger (MX) record is a type of DNS record that specifies the mail server responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a domain name. Here's a breakdown of MX records:

What is an MX record?

An MX record is a DNS record that maps a domain name to a mail server's hostname or IP address. It's used to determine which mail server should receive email messages intended for a specific domain.

Format of an MX record

An MX record consists of two parts:

  1. Priority: A numerical value that indicates the order in which mail servers should be tried. Lower values have higher priority.
  2. Mail server hostname or IP address: The hostname or IP address of the mail server responsible for accepting email messages.

Example of an MX record

Here's an example of an MX record:

IN MX 10 mail.example.com.

In this example:

How MX records work

When an email message is sent to a domain, the sending mail server performs a DNS lookup to determine the MX record for that domain. The MX record specifies the mail server responsible for accepting email messages, and the sending mail server uses this information to route the email message to the correct mail server.

Why are MX records important?

MX records are crucial for ensuring that email messages are delivered correctly to the intended recipient's mail server. Without a valid MX record, email messages may not be delivered or may be routed to the wrong mail server, leading to delivery failures or delays.

Common MX record issues

Some common issues that can occur with MX records include:

Tools for managing MX records

There are several tools available for managing MX records, including: