MX RECORD Meaning and
Definition
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An MX record, short for Mail Exchange record, is an essential part of the Domain Name System (DNS) that defines how email should be routed and delivered to a specific domain. It is a type of resource record in the DNS system that points to the mail servers responsible for accepting incoming emails for a particular domain.
When an email is sent, the sender's mail server queries the DNS system for the MX record of the recipient's domain. The MX record provides information about the order of preference for mail servers and their associated priority values. These priority values indicate the order in which mail servers should be contacted in case a particular server is unavailable or unreachable. The lower the priority value, the higher the ranking.
The MX record contains two significant pieces of information: the server address (often represented as a domain name) and the associated priority value. If multiple MX records exist with the same priority, emails are usually distributed randomly among them. In case of a server failure, the next MX record with the next lowest priority is tried until a working mail server is found.
Overall, MX records are vital in ensuring that emails are properly routed to their intended destinations. They provide a way for mail servers to discover the appropriate recipient domain's mail exchange servers, facilitating efficient and reliable email communication.
Common Misspellings for MX RECORD
- nx record
- kx record
- jx record
- mz record
- mc record
- md record
- ms record
- mx eecord
- mx decord
- mx fecord
- mx tecord
- mx 5ecord
- mx 4ecord
- mx rwcord
- mx rscord
- mx rdcord
- mx rrcord
- mx r4cord
- mx r3cord
- mx rexord
Etymology of MX RECORD
The term "MX record" stands for "Mail eXchange record". The etymology of this term can be broken down as follows:
1. Mail: The word "mail" dates back to the 12th century and comes from the Old English word "male" or "māl", which means "bag, pack, or wallet". It later evolved to refer specifically to letters and parcels sent through postal systems.
2. Exchange: The word "exchange" originates from the Old French word "eschangier", derived from the Late Latin word "excambiare", meaning "to barter" or "to change". In the context of MX records, "exchange" refers to the server responsible for receiving and forwarding email on behalf of a particular domain.
3. Record: "Record" comes from the Old French word "recorde", originating from the Latin word "recordari" meaning "to remember".
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