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What's the meaning of '@' in a DNS zone file?

I know that DNS records starting with * are called Wildcard records. What is the name for DNS record starting with @ (the at symbol). This is a record for the root domain (e.g. just example.com, not www.example.com)

I want to find out more, but searching for "@ record dns" in Google doesn't return any useful results.

What is the correct terminology for this type of record, and where might I find it described in more detail?

RFC 1035 describes the use of @ in a DNS record, but doesn't go as far as giving it a name.

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I'd say there is a distinction. That question answers what the @ does, but not what this kind of record is called. The link to RFC 1035 is helpful. Does this mean that the record is called a "current origin" record? If so, then fair enough, but if it doesn't then I don't see where the RFC actually gives this type of record a name. – dunxd Sep 11 '12 at 14:06
The meaning of "@" is not defined in RFC. It is a BIND zone file convention/shortcut for, as noted, the current value of $ORIGIN. Since it is impossible to communicate @ using the DNS protocol, it is not a RR or label type. – adaptr Sep 11 '12 at 14:49
"What is a record starting with @ called?" != "What does @ mean in DNS Zone file?" Another "me too" closure... Guess the summer of love is over, if it ever started... – dunxd Sep 12 '12 at 9:00

marked as duplicate by mulaz, Chris McKeown, SvW, Brent Pabst, HopelessN00b Sep 11 '12 at 15:35

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1 Answer

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In a DNS file, the "@" symbol is a placeholder used to represent "the current domain".

The @ symbol in your DNS record refers to the record for your domain name without any www or sub-domain name.

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