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