What type of DNS record is used to link a domain name to an IPv4 address for a given server?

The correct choice is the Address Record, commonly referred to as an A Record. An A Record is the specific type of DNS record that associates a domain name with its corresponding IPv4 address. This means that when a user enters a domain name in their web browser, the DNS system uses the A Record to resolve that domain to the numeric IP address of the server hosting the website or service, allowing for the successful connection and retrieval of content.

The other options serve different purposes in DNS configurations. For instance, a CNAME record creates an alias of one domain name to another, which can help with subdomains or pointing multiple domains to the same target server, but it does not directly link a domain name to an IP address. The Mail Exchange Record, or MX, directs email messages to the appropriate mail servers based on the domain, which is unrelated to web traffic resolution. Lastly, a Text Record (TXT) is used to store arbitrary text information that can be associated with a domain, often for verification or policy purposes, but again, it does not provide IP address mapping. Thus, the A Record is essential for linking domains to IPv4 addresses directly.