DNS record types · Updated

DNS AAAA record

An AAAA record (pronounced "quad-A") maps a hostname to an IPv6 address. It is the IPv6 twin of the A record, named for an address four times as long.

Look up a AAAA record

Check what DNS returns right now:

Format and example

www.example.com.   3600   IN   AAAA   2001:db8::10
  • Name: The hostname the record answers for.
  • TTL: Seconds a resolver may cache the answer.
  • Value: One IPv6 address, written with colons. :: stands for one run of zero groups.

Common mistakes

  • Publishing an AAAA record for a server that does not actually listen on IPv6. Visitors on IPv6 may wait for a timeout before their browser falls back to IPv4.
  • Leaving a stale AAAA record after moving to a new host. Browsers prefer IPv6, so the old server keeps getting traffic.
  • Entering a link-local address that starts with fe80. It only works on one local network.
  • Having an AAAA record but no A record. Visitors on IPv4-only connections then cannot reach the site.

Related record types

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

Frequently asked questions

What is an AAAA record?

An AAAA record maps a domain or subdomain to an IPv6 address such as 2001:db8::10. It lets visitors who have IPv6 connect to your site over IPv6.

Do I need an AAAA record if I have an A record?

No, but it is a good idea if your server and network support IPv6. Publish both so visitors can use whichever protocol they have.

Why is it called AAAA?

An IPv6 address is 128 bits, four times the 32 bits of an IPv4 address, so the record type was named with four As.

How do I test whether my AAAA record works?

Look it up above, then open the site over IPv6, for example with curl -6 https://example.com. You can also check that your own connection supports IPv6 with the IPv6 test.