Add custom DNS records to connect your site to the third-party tools you use, like Google Site Verification or Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

This guide explains the different resource record types and where to find more information for adding or fixing specific DNS records.

Note: Our scope of support for DNS records is limited. We can help with showing you where to add records to your DNS settings. We can’t provide technical advice about DNS records or information about how DNS records work with other services. If you need more help, you can get peer-to-peer help in the Domains section of the Squarespace Forum or contact the service you're trying to connect, using our sample message.

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Understanding resource records

All domains contain DNS records, aka resource records, to store information about your domain, like email and domain ownership verification.DNS records are stored in nameservers. All DNS records have a purpose and provide a resource to your domain. You can manage and modify most resource records directly from within Squarespace.

Tip: You can also set up custom nameservers. When using custom nameservers, you’ll manage and modify most of your resource records through your nameserver provider instead. Learn more in Making changes to nameservers.

Resource records provide information about your domain, such as who your web host or email provider are. When someone goes to your website or sends you an email, resource records ensure all pieces connect and the website loads or email goes through properly. Resource records can also improve website security and authenticate domain name ownership.

Types of resource records

When you add a resource record in Squarespace, it contains information in the following fields:

• Host name
• Type
• Time-To-Live (TTL)
• Data

We have category-specific guides on each resource record type explaining where to add, remove and modify DNS records for Squarespace-managed domains. Here’s a list of those guides and links to them.

DNS records for web hosting

The following DNS records are for web hosting, authenticating domain name ownership and routing your domain to the correct site:

• A
• AAAA
• ALIAS
• CNAME

To learn more about each of these DNS records, visit DNS records for web hosting.

DNS records for email

The following DNS records are used for adding email to your domain:

• DKIM and SPF
• MX

To learn more about each of these DNS records, visit DNS records for email.

DNS records for security

The following DNS records are used for adding additional security to your domain:

• CAA
• DS and DNSKEY
• PTR
• SSHFP
• TLSA

To learn more about each of these DNS records, visit DNS records for security. For more information about the security that we automatically add to your domain, visit these guides:

• Understanding SSL certificates
• DNSSEC overview for Squarespace domains.

Other records

If you're using advanced third-party services to help you with things like security or SEO, you can add those services to your DNS records using the following types of resource records:

• NS records
• TXT records

To learn more about each of these DNS records, visit Adding NS and TXT records to Squarespace-managed domains.

Troubleshooting

For help with resolving DNS record issues, visit Troubleshooting issues with DNS records.