MX record

Names the mail servers that accept email for a domain, with a priority number — lowest is tried first.

What one looks like

example.com.  3600  IN  MX  10 mail.example.com.

Things worth knowing

  • No MX record means the domain cannot receive email.
  • Equal priorities distribute load; different priorities create a fallback order.
  • An MX must point at a hostname, never at an IP address.

Look up a real MX record

Query any domain live and see every record type with its TTL.

Run a DNS lookup