Introduction
If the word MX Record sounds complex, this guide is for you. We will attempt to understand “What an MX Record is” with relevant details. So without further ado, let’s dive into the topic.
What is an MX Record in DNS?
MX Record stands for Mail Exchanger Record. A mail exchanger record specifies which server is responsible for receiving emails (messages) on behalf of your domain name and to which location the emails should route. The MX record is considered an important resource for the DNS or Domain Name System.
You will not receive emails unless your MX Records point to the correct location.
Also Read: WHAT IS DNS?
Parts of MX Record with Example
MX Record can mainly be divided into 2 parts, which play significant roles in delivering emails to your Inbox.
The first part is the “Priority,” and the second is the “Name of your Mail Server.”
If your domain name is mycompany.org, your mail server will look like mail.mycompany.org. So the structure will be –
MX Record = Priority + Name of the Mail Server
Priority is an Integer Number or a Whole Number ranging from 0 to 65535, where 0 is the lowest number yet has the highest priority. So lower the number is, the higher will be the domain’s priority. Here the Priority value is used to determine which MX server connects first to reach your inbox. It establishes random connections if multiple records have the same priority.
Also Read: What is a PTR record?
What is MX Preference
The primary benefit of using MX preferences is that they allow you to specify multiple mail servers for a single domain name. They also help you define which one should be accessed first. This opens up an opportunity for faster email delivery than a single server. This increased capacity helps you manage more incoming email traffic across multiple physical servers.
MX Record Preference helps you determine which mail server (from the bunch of mail servers) must connect to your domain. The lower the Preference Number higher the priority.
When a remote client queries an MX lookup for the domain name, he will receive a list of servers along with their first-choice numbers. Whenever an email is sent, the MX Record bearing the smallest first choice number receives the highest priority and will become the first server to be tried for sending emails.
The remote client will loop through a list of servers until the message is delivered successfully or permanently rejected due to an inaccessible server.
Also Read: NGINX Explained! Know its Working & What is it Used For?
What is MX Priority 0?
As explained above, priority is an essential component of the MX record structure. The lowest priority value or number is favored the most. Experts recommend having at least 2 MX records for a single domain name.
Let’s understand this with an example.
Consider your 1st MX server has priority 3, while the 2nd MX server has priority 9. Here, 1st MX server is used to send emails.
For MaileXchanger (MX), the priority value “0” (zero) is an undisputed winner representing the highest priority in an MX record.
Also Read: What is HSTS & How to Implement on your website?
Who Controls Your MX Record?
The simplest answer to this million-dollar question is your “Hosting Company,” to which your nameservers point. Consider your domain uses the nameserver services from Host IT Smart. In that case, all the changes made to your DNS, including custom MX records, will get executed from the Host IT Smart Panel.
Wrapup
After such an exhaustive discussion, you would have had a fair idea of what an MX record is and the significant details encapsulating this concept.