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DNS

MX Record

Mail Exchange record. A DNS record specifying the mail server responsible for receiving email for a domain.

Definition

An MX (Mail Exchange) record is a DNS record that specifies which mail server is responsible for receiving email on behalf of a domain. MX records include a priority value - lower numbers indicate higher priority. When sending email, the sender's server queries MX records to determine where to deliver the message. Missing or incorrect MX records prevent email delivery.

Examples

  • example.com MX 10 mail.example.com
  • example.com MX 20 mail2.example.com (backup)

Pro Tip

Always have at least two MX records with different priorities for redundancy.

Related Terms

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