Which type of record in DNS is primarily used for directing email traffic?

The MX Record, or Mail Exchange Record, is specifically designed for directing email traffic. When an email is sent to an address that belongs to a particular domain, the sending mail server queries the DNS to find out where to deliver the email. The MX Record provides the necessary information about the mail servers responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of that domain.

In detail, MX Records specify not only the mail servers' domain names but also their respective priority levels; this allows for the configuration of multiple mail servers. If one server is unavailable, the mail system can attempt delivery to the next server listed in the priority order. This functionality ensures reliable email delivery and is crucial for managing email traffic effectively.

Other types of DNS records serve different purposes. For instance, A Records associate domain names with their respective IP addresses, CNAME Records create aliases for domains, and PTR Records provide a way to perform reverse DNS lookups. Each of these could not fulfill the specific role of directing email traffic as efficiently or effectively as the MX Record does.