If you have worked on DNS, you have probably come across A records, including dozens of different record types, and you probably were overwhelmed. However, if you are new to common DNS names, do not worry. We will break it down for you, so it doesn’t sound like Greek. This article will give you everything you need to know about this valuable record. Read on to understand all you need to know about A records.
What Is an A Record?
If you are familiar with the popularly used CNAME record, then you understand its limitations and functions. Both CNAME and A record are reasonable solutions for directing the hostname to the desired website, but A Record offers more flexibility.
A Record, also known as ALIAS, is a type of domain record utilized instead of a CNAME record. A record was designed by blending some of the best qualities of A and CNAME records to create a masterpiece. This masterpiece enables users to bypass RFC requirements without breaking your DNS, in which other records functionality would be limited as well.
Using A Record, you can direct the root of the desired domain to a fully qualified domain name. For example, if a user plans to direct the naked version of a domain to an (FDNQ), using an A record is the best solution.
A records are perfect for mission-critical systems requiring regular updates or pinpoint GeoDNS resolutions. A records allow for the ability of multiple dynamic updated IP addresses from different regions authoritative to the user domain. This comes in handy during content delivery networks (CDNS). A Record is accessible from domain companies like GoDaddy, Google Domain, Namecheap, and more.
The mind behind DNS Made Easy is among the innovators who created A Record technology. Before A record came to light, API calls were used to achieve similar record results.
How Do A Records Work?
Like CNAME, A Record directs one domain name to another, simply put, an A Record is configured to map the route to another domain. Once an A record is quarried, DNS Made Easy is questioned to resolve the FDQN saved inside the A record. If it can't be resolved, the most recent cached IP address will be retrieved in its own place.
This solution is beneficial as it ensures users get content without any unnecessary downtime. The presence of an end-point allows users to retrieve the cached IP addresses from an earlier point.
While a CNAME record only enables the user to map a subdomain to an FQDN and an A record only permits users to point their root to an IP address, an A record combines the best of both worlds but mostly behaves like a CNAME at the surface. You may include A records in your DNS configuration in various ways.
You have more freedom and flexibility to set up your domains precisely how you want them using this record type. A records work the same way at the root level. However, there are distinct differences between different DNS providers. Therefore, it's essential to research what they offer and if it suits your situation before choosing a provider.
Conclusion
You've undoubtedly seen A Record as a record before if you've ever created a domain name for a website or worked on DNS projects. It's the same as the well-known canonical name record type (CNAME). However, if you are new to this, hopefully, after reading this article, you now understand what the A record is and how it works at the same time.
The article also tackles some key differences between CNAME to help you understand when and where to use the two solutions. Compared to other record types, A Record might be slightly underused probably because it's unpopular with people, but it does present major benefits, as mentioned above. The world is advancing, and it is about time you move ahead with it by learning what A Record is. Give this article a quick review the next time you plan to embark on DNS projects to refresh your memory on A records.