What is the function of an MX (Mail Exchanger) record?

The function of an MX (Mail Exchanger) record is to determine the hostname for a mail server responsible for receiving email on behalf of a domain. When an email is sent to an address, the sender's email server queries the DNS (Domain Name System) for the MX records associated with the recipient's domain. The MX record specifies the domain name of the mail server that will accept emails for that domain, often including priority values that determine the order in which mail servers should be tried if there are multiple servers listed.

For instance, if you send an email to someone@example.com, your email server checks the MX records for 'example.com' to find the correct server to deliver the email. This process is crucial for directing the flow of email communication correctly. The other options, such as storing IP addresses or verifying domain ownership, pertain to different types of DNS records or protocols and are not the function of MX records. Similarly, preventing email spoofing is generally addressed through methods like SPF (Sender Policy Framework) or DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), rather than through the MX record itself.