AAAA record
Learn what a DNS AAAA record is, how it maps domains to IPv6 addresses, dual-stack setup, lookup methods, and troubleshooting tips.
What Is an AAAA Record in DNS?
TL;DR
An AAAA record (Quad-A) is the IPv6 version of an A record. It maps a domain name (e.g., example.com) to an IPv6 address (e.g., 2001:db8::1), enabling faster, more secure IPv6 connectivity. Most modern sites use both A (IPv4) and AAAA (IPv6) records for dual-stack support.
How AAAA Records Work
When a client (browser, app) supports IPv6, the DNS resolver queries for the AAAA record and receives the IPv6 address. The connection is then established over IPv6—often faster and with a larger address space than IPv4.
AAAA records support:
- Root domains (
example.com) - Subdomains (
www.example.com,api.example.com) - Multiple IPs for basic round-robin load balancing
- Coexistence with A records (dual-stack)
Common Use Cases
- Dual-stack websites: serving both IPv4 and IPv6 clients
- IPv6-only services: modern cloud, mobile, or internal networks
- CDN & cloud integration: pointing to IPv6-capable edge servers
- Future-proofing: preparing for increasing IPv6 adoption
- Email, APIs, gaming: resolving IPv6 mail servers, endpoints, or game servers
How to Lookup AAAA Records
dig example.com AAAAnslookup -type=AAAA example.comRecord Format
NAME TTL CLASS TYPE VALUE
example.com. 3600 IN AAAA 2001:db8::1- VALUE: Valid IPv6 address (hexadecimal, colon-separated, supports :: compression)
- Multiple AAAA records allowed for basic load balancing
Valid Examples
example.com. AAAA 2001:db8::1
www.example.com. AAAA 2001:db8::cafe:1234
api.example.com. AAAA 2001:db8:1234::abcdDual-stack example (most common real-world setup):
example.com. A 192.0.2.1
example.com. AAAA 2001:db8::1Multiple AAAA records (round-robin):
example.com. AAAA 2001:db8::1
example.com. AAAA 2001:db8::2
example.com. AAAA 2001:db8::3AAAA vs A Records
| Feature | AAAA | A |
|---|---|---|
| Address type | IPv6 (128-bit) | IPv4 (32-bit) |
| Format | Colon-hex | Dot-decimal |
| Example | 2001:db8::1 | 192.0.2.1 |
| Address space | ~340 undecillion | ~4.3 billion |
| Can exist at root | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Load balancing | Yes (basic) | Yes (basic) |
| Dual-stack support | Yes (with A) | Yes (with AAAA) |
→ See also: A Record, CNAME Record
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between A and AAAA records?
- **A** → IPv4 addresses only (e.g., 192.0.2.1)
- **AAAA** → IPv6 addresses only (e.g., 2001:db8::1)
- **AAAA** → IPv6 addresses only (e.g., 2001:db8::1)
Should I add AAAA records to my site?
Yes, if your server supports IPv6, add AAAA records for better performance and future-readiness. Keep the A record for IPv4 fallback.
Can I have multiple AAAA records?
Yes, just like A records, multiple IPs enable basic round-robin load balancing.
How long do AAAA changes take to propagate?
Same as A records: minutes to 48 hours, depending on TTL and caching.
Can I have A and AAAA on the same name?
Yes, this is the standard dual-stack configuration.
References
Related: A Record · CNAME Record · DNS Basics