AAAA Record

DNS records direct domain names to IP addresses. While the A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address, the AAAA record serves the same function but for the newer, longer IPv6 addressing scheme. We implement AAAA records when the target server or service is configured to operate using IPv6 addressing. This is crucial for organizations aiming for full internet protocol stack compatibility and future-proofing their infrastructure. For example, if a service is migrating to or already running on an IPv6-only network segment, the AAAA record provides the necessary pointer for clients to locate it. Proper management of AAAA records, alongside A records, ensures that users connecting via different IP versions can reliably reach the intended resource. If a domain only has an A record and no AAAA record, IPv6-capable clients may fail to resolve the address, leading to connectivity issues for those users. We recommend maintaining both record types for comprehensive global accessibility.

Related Terms: A Record, IPv6, DNS, IP Address, Quad-A