DNS record types · Updated

DNS A record

An A (address) record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address. It is the record that tells a browser which server to connect to when someone types your domain.

Look up a A record

Check what DNS returns right now:

Format and example

www.example.com.   3600   IN   A   203.0.113.10
  • Name: The hostname the record answers for. @ in most DNS panels means the bare domain.
  • TTL: Seconds a resolver may cache the answer. See DNS TTL.
  • Value: One IPv4 address in dotted form. Never a hostname.

Common mistakes

  • Pointing the record at a private address such as 192.168.1.20. It works inside your network and nowhere else.
  • Leaving the old A record after a move. Two A records are both served, so about half of visitors still reach the old server.
  • Forgetting www. The bare domain and www.example.com are separate names and each needs its own record (or a CNAME for www).
  • Entering an IPv6 address. That belongs in an AAAA record.

Related record types

AAAA record, CNAME record. The DNS record types guide compares them all.

Frequently asked questions

What is an A record?

An A record maps a domain or subdomain to an IPv4 address, such as 203.0.113.10. It is the most common DNS record and the one that tells browsers where your website is hosted.

What does the A in A record stand for?

Address. The IPv6 equivalent is the AAAA record.

Can an A record point to a domain name?

No. An A record holds an IP address only. To point one name at another name, use a CNAME record.

Can a domain have more than one A record?

Yes. Resolvers return all of them and clients pick one, which spreads traffic across servers. It is not a substitute for a real load balancer, because it does not notice a server that is down.

How do I find the A record of a domain?

Enter the domain in the lookup above, or run dig example.com A +short, or nslookup -type=A example.com.