AAAA Records Explained Simply

What is an AAAA Record?

An AAAA (quad-A) record is just like an A record, but for the newer version of IP addresses (IPv6). While A records use shorter IPv4 addresses, AAAA records use longer IPv6 addresses that look quite different.

Real-world examples:

# Pointing your main domain to an IPv6 web server
example.com             →    2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

# Setting up multiple subdomains with IPv6
mail.example.com       →    2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7335
shop.example.com       →    2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7336

# Modern setup using both A and AAAA records
example.com            →    192.0.2.1                                  (A record)
example.com            →    2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334  (AAAA record)

Simple Explanation

Imagine your domain name is like a business with two different addresses:

The old address system (IPv4, using A records) is like "123 Main St" - short and simple
The new address system (IPv6, using AAAA records) is like "123 Main Street, Building 4, Floor 2, Suite 567, Zone B" - longer but more detailed

AAAA records help computers find your website using these longer, newer addresses. Many modern websites use both types of addresses (both A and AAAA records) to be accessible to everyone.

Common Uses (With Examples)

✓
Modern Website Hosting
Support both old and new visitors:
```
example.com → 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334
```
✓
Mobile Network Support
Many mobile networks use IPv6:
```
mobile.example.com → 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7335
```
✓
Cloud Services
Modern cloud providers support IPv6:
```
cloud.example.com → 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7336
```

Important Things to Know

•
IPv6 Only
AAAA records only work with IPv6 addresses. For older IPv4 addresses, you need A records.
•
Dual-Stack Setup
Most websites today use both A and AAAA records to support all visitors.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

⚠️
Using IPv4 Address
Don't try to use IPv4 addresses in AAAA records - use A records instead.
⚠️
Forgetting A Records
Don't only use AAAA records - many users still need IPv4 access.

Quick Tips for Success

✓
Use Both Record Types
Set up both A and AAAA records to support all visitors to your website.
✓
Test IPv6 Connectivity
Regularly verify that your IPv6 addresses are working correctly.
✓
Keep Records in Sync
When updating A records, remember to update corresponding AAAA records too.

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