What Is an AAAA Record?

What Is an AAAA Record?

An AAAA record (also called IPv6 address record) is a DNS record that maps a domain name to an IPv6 address. AAAA records are similar to A records (which map to IPv4 addresses) but store IPv6 addresses instead.

AAAA records enable domain names to resolve to IPv6 addresses (e.g., example.com → 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). AAAA records are essential for IPv6 support, allowing websites and services to be accessible via IPv6 addresses.

AAAA records are used for IPv6-only services and dual-stack (IPv4 + IPv6) configurations. Learn more about DNS and DNS lookup.

AAAA vs A Record

AAAA records and A records serve similar purposes but for different IP address versions:

A Records (IPv4)

• Map domain names to IPv4 addresses
• IPv4 addresses: 32-bit addresses (e.g., 192.0.2.1)
• Format: example.com → 192.0.2.1
• Used for IPv4-only services

AAAA Records (IPv6)

• Map domain names to IPv6 addresses
• IPv6 addresses: 128-bit addresses (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334)
• Format: example.com → 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334
• Used for IPv6-only services

Dual-Stack Configuration

Many domains use both A and AAAA records for dual-stack (IPv4 + IPv6) support, allowing services to be accessible via both IPv4 and IPv6.

IPv6 Addresses

What Is IPv6?

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the successor to IPv4, providing a much larger address space (128-bit addresses vs 32-bit addresses).

IPv6 Address Format

IPv6 addresses are written in hexadecimal format: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

IPv6 Benefits

• Larger address space (340 undecillion addresses)
• Better security features
• Improved performance
• Simplified network configuration

IPv6 Adoption

IPv6 adoption is growing, and AAAA records are essential for IPv6 support and dual-stack configurations.

AAAA Record Uses

1. IPv6-Only Services

AAAA records enable IPv6-only services to be accessible via domain names.

2. Dual-Stack Support

AAAA records enable dual-stack (IPv4 + IPv6) configurations, allowing services to be accessible via both IPv4 and IPv6.

3. IPv6 Migration

AAAA records are essential for IPv6 migration, allowing gradual transition from IPv4 to IPv6.

4. Future-Proofing

AAAA records future-proof domains for IPv6 adoption and support.

5. Network Services

AAAA records are used for IPv6 network services, websites, and applications.

Checking AAAA Records

1. DNS Lookup Tools

Use DNS lookup tools to query AAAA records and retrieve IPv6 addresses for domains.

2. Command Line Tools

Use command-line tools (dig, nslookup) to query AAAA records: dig AAAA example.com

3. Online Tools

Use online DNS lookup tools to check AAAA records and verify IPv6 configuration.

4. Domain Health Check

Use our domain health check to verify DNS configuration including AAAA records.

5. Verification

Verify AAAA records are published correctly and IPv6 addresses are valid.