NAPTR Record

NAPTR Record Definition

NAPTR stands for 'Name Authority Pointer' and specifies a rule that may use a 'regular expression' (or 'regex') to rewrite a 'string' (sequence of characters) to a domain name or a so-called 'Uniform Resource Identifier'. A NAPTR-Record is a DNS record that allows you to set rules for how your website processes requests. 

NAPTR records are used to map telephony resources to DNS resources. They are used in IP telephony and VOIP applications within the context of ENUM, along with SRV records.

Why do you need a NAPTR record?

NAPTR records allow you to set dynamic rules for how your website processes requests. This type of record is especially useful to websites that provide internet telephony services.

How to create a NAPTR record?

Go to your DNS zone management page, click on the Add new record option, and then select NAPTR to add a new NAPTR record.

There are six different components in each NAPTR record. When creating a NAPTR record, make sure you adhere to the correct order. The following is the correct order:

1. Order: also called ‘priority’;
2. Preference: also called ‘weight’;
3. Flags: These are crucial for the accurate rewriting and interpretation of the other NAPTR record parts;
4. Service: This lists the available services and, if applicable, the specific protocol that should be used to connect to a service;
5. Regular expression: also called ‘regexp’;
6. Replacement: When the value "S" or "A" is set in the "flags" option, this (sub)domain is used.

NAPTR record restrictions

In the format of NAPTR records, the Regular Expression and Replacement fields are mutually exclusive. Only one of them can be used in a particular record. Their usage is determined by the Flags field.