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Glossary Index

MX Record

A DNS record that directs emails to the correct mail server for receiving messages.

What is MX Record?

An MX (Mail Exchange) record is a type of DNS record that directs email traffic to the correct mail server for a domain. Without MX records, incoming emails wouldn't know where to go.

Why it matters

MX records are critical for receiving mail. If they're missing or misconfigured, your domain simply can't accept incoming messages. For sending mail, MX records also play a role in routing and authentication, since other servers use them to verify your domain setup.

How it works

  • The mail server responsible for receiving email (e.g., ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM).
  • A priority value — lower numbers are tried first.
  • Backup servers that act as fallbacks if the primary server is unavailable.

When someone sends you an email, their server looks up your MX records and delivers the message to the appropriate destination.

Examples

  • A company using Google Workspace sets MX records pointing to Google's servers.
  • An organization running its own mail server publishes an MX record with its IP.
  • A misconfigured MX record causes incoming emails to bounce.

Best practices

  • Always have at least two MX records for redundancy.
  • Monitor your DNS regularly to prevent unauthorized changes.
  • Use TLS for secure communication between servers.

Related terms

SMTP, SPF

FAQs

Do MX records affect sending email?
Not directly. MX records determine where you receive mail. However, some providers check MX configurations when evaluating your domain's legitimacy.

Can I have multiple MX records?
Yes, and it's best practice. Multiple records provide redundancy, so if one server goes down, others can handle the traffic.

What happens if my MX record is misconfigured?
Your domain may stop receiving emails entirely, or they may bounce back to senders. This can disrupt business communication until corrected.