A DNS record that connects a domain name or subdomain to an IPv4 address, which is the numbered address of a server on the internet. Beginners usually edit an A Record when a hosting provider gives them a server address and asks them to point the website to it, but they should always copy existing DNS settings before making changes.
How A Record Works
An A Record sits inside a domain’s DNS settings and points a name such as example.com to a specific IPv4 server address. When someone enters the domain, DNS uses that record as part of the process that sends the browser to the correct server.
Simple Example
Your web host gives you an IPv4 address and asks you to point your domain to it. You update the A Record for the domain so visitors are sent to the correct server.
Why It Matters for Beginners
This matters because one incorrect value can send a website to the wrong server or make it unreachable. Beginners should know that an A Record is a routing setting, not just an obscure technical label.
A Common Mistake
Changing the record without saving the existing value first, then not knowing how to restore the site if the new address is wrong.
Related Terms
- DNS
- Domain Name
- Nameserver
- CNAME Record
- Hosting
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