What's the difference between A record and AAAA record?

A records point to IPv4 addresses (like 192.168.1.1), while AAAA records point to IPv6 addresses (like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). Most websites have both for compatibility with all networks.

Can I have multiple A records for the same domain?

Yes! Multiple A records for one domain is called round-robin DNS. Traffic is distributed across all IPs, providing basic load balancing and redundancy. If one server fails, others still receive traffic.

How long does it take for A record changes to propagate?

A record changes typically propagate within 1-4 hours, but can take up to 48 hours depending on TTL settings. Lower TTL values mean faster propagation but more DNS queries.

Should I use an A record or CNAME for my subdomain?

Use A record if pointing directly to an IP address. Use CNAME if pointing to another domain name (like a CDN or hosting provider's domain). Root domains (@) cannot use CNAME - only A records.

What happens if my A record points to a wrong IP?

Your domain will direct visitors to the wrong server. This could show an error page, someone else's website, or nothing at all. Always double-check IP addresses before saving A record changes.

What is a DNS A Record? Complete Beginner's Guide

What is an A Record?

The "A" in A record stands for "Address". It's the most basic and essential DNS record type.

An A record creates a direct connection between a domain name (like example.com) and an IPv4 address (like 93.184.216.34). Without an A record, browsers wouldn't know which server to contact when you type in a website address.

Think of it like this:

A record is like a contact in your phone. Instead of memorizing "93.184.216.34", you just type "example.com" and DNS looks up the number for you.

How A Records Work

When you visit a website, here's what happens:

1

You type a domain

You enter "example.com" in your browser.

2

Browser asks DNS

"What's the IP address for example.com?"

3

DNS returns A record

"The IP is 93.184.216.34"

4

Browser connects

Your browser connects to that IP and loads the website.

This entire process happens in milliseconds, every time you visit any website.

A Record Examples

Here's what A records look like in DNS:

Name	Type	Value (IP)	TTL
@	A	192.0.2.1	3600
www	A	192.0.2.1	3600
blog	A	192.0.2.2	3600
shop	A	192.0.2.3	3600

Note: The @ symbol represents your root domain (example.com without any subdomain).

How to Create an A Record

Creating an A record is straightforward in most DNS providers:

1

Log into your DNS provider (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)

2

Go to DNS settings or DNS zone editor

3

Click "Add Record" and select type "A"

4

Enter the name (@ for root, or subdomain like "www" or "blog")

5

Enter your server's IPv4 address

6

Set TTL (3600 is a good default) and save

Tip: Most websites need two A records - one for @ (root domain) and one for www, both pointing to the same IP.

How to Check A Records

You can check A records using command line or online tools:

# Using nslookup (Windows/Mac/Linux)

nslookup example.com

# Using dig (Mac/Linux)

dig example.com A +short

Check A Records Online

Use DNSFly to check your A records from 20+ global locations. Verify your domain points to the correct IP worldwide.

Check A Records

Common Uses for A Records

Point domain to web server

The primary use - connecting your domain to your website's hosting server.

Create subdomains

Point blog.example.com, shop.example.com, or app.example.com to different servers.

Load balancing

Multiple A records for the same domain distribute traffic across several servers.

Mail server hostname

MX records point to a hostname (like mail.example.com) which needs an A record to resolve to an IP.

What is a DNS A Record?

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