A record host is an electronic set of instructions that tells a user's computer where a domain and its accompanying resources, such as its website, are located. A host record will direct a user's computer through the Domain Name System (DNS) to a certain set of servers, identified by their IP address and on which a domain and its resources are located.

For instance, let's say the resources of your domain were located on a web host's server at the IP address 209.61.183.125, and you wished to link your domain to your resources. You would create a host record that pointed mycooldomain.com to 209.61.183.125. After doing so, anyone who typed in mycooldomain.com to their web browser would have their computer directed to the name servers corresponding to the IP address 209.61.183.125 and containing your resources.