AAAA (Quad-A Record)

The AAAA (Quad-A Record) is a DNS record similar to the A record, but whereas the A record points a domain name to an IPv4 address, the AAAA record maps a domain name to an IPv6 address.

Characteristics of a Quad-A Record:

  1. Purpose: Maps a domain name to its corresponding IPv6 address.
  2. Format: The record typically consists of a domain name followed by its associated IPv6 address.
  3. Example:
   example.com.  IN  AAAA  2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

In this example, when someone accesses example.com using an IPv6-enabled resolver or application, the DNS system will use the AAAA record to resolve example.com to the IPv6 address 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

Key Points:

  • IPv6 AddressAAAA records are exclusively for IPv6 addresses. IPv6 addresses are longer than IPv4 addresses and can handle a vast number of devices. They are becoming more crucial as the number of devices on the internet continues to grow and IPv4 addresses run out.
  • Time-to-Live (TTL)AAAA records, like all DNS records, have a TTL value. This value dictates how long the record should be cached by DNS resolvers and browsers. After the TTL expires, the cache needs to be refreshed.
  • Dual StackMany modern systems run both IPv4 and IPv6. Therefore, it’s common for a domain to have both an A record (for IPv4) and an AAAA record (for IPv6). This setup allows the domain to be reachable over both IP versions.

Using AAAA records is becoming increasingly essential as the internet transitions more towards IPv6 due to the exhaustion of available IPv4 addresses. They ensure that websites and online services remain accessible to users on the newer IPv6 protocol.

Key terms in plain language

Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.

Fiber Internet

Internet delivered through strands of glass using light. Fiber commonly supports high capacity, low latency, and strong upload performance, but availability must be confirmed for the exact address.

Broadband

A general term for always-on, high-speed Internet access. Broadband can be delivered over fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, cellular, or satellite networks.

Bandwidth

The amount of data a connection can carry in a given time, usually measured in Mbps or Gbps. More bandwidth supports more users, devices, and simultaneous applications.

Latency

The time it takes data to travel between two points. Lower latency improves voice, video meetings, cloud applications, gaming, and other real-time services.

Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)

A business-grade Internet connection with capacity dedicated to the customer rather than shared in the same way as typical consumer broadband. It often includes symmetrical speeds and an SLA.

SD-WAN

Software-defined wide area networking. It manages multiple connections and chooses paths based on application needs, performance, and policy to improve resilience and control.