MX Records
An explanation of what MX records are
MX records are a type of DNS record that allow mail services to determine where email for a particular domain should be routed. Each domain receiving email requires MX records so sending email services know the destination.
Important: Without MX records, no email can be received at that domain!
How MX Records Work
Consider the email address richard.hendricks@improvmx.com:
- The text before the
@symbol is the alias - The text after the
@symbol is the domain
When an email is sent, the sending server looks up the DNS MX records for the target domain to determine where to deliver the message.
Example MX Records
Here are the MX records for improvmx.com:
| Preference/Priority | Hostname |
|---|---|
10 | mx1.improvmx.com |
20 | mx2.improvmx.com |
Understanding Priority
The preference number provides redundancy through multiple MX records. Email servers should use MX records with the lowest number priority first, and will fall back to others if unavailable.
The actual numbers are relative only - priority 1 and 2 work the same as 10 and 20.
Summary
You now have a basic understanding of how MX records are used to direct email, both on your incoming messages and on mails you send to others.
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to our support team!