A Record Lookup — Check a Domain’s IPv4 Addresses

What is an A record?

An A record maps a hostname to a single IPv4 address. It is the record a browser needs before it can open a connection, so a missing or wrong A record is the usual reason a domain "does not work" while everything else about it looks fine.

Fields in an A record

Field	Meaning
Name	The hostname the record belongs to, for example `www.example.com`.
TTL	Seconds a resolver may cache this address before asking again.
Address	One IPv4 address in dotted-quad form.

How to read the results

Each row is one IPv4 address. A hostname may publish several A records; resolvers hand them out in rotating order, which is the simplest form of load balancing. Seeing more than one address is normal and not an error.

Rules worth knowing

A records hold IPv4 addresses only. The IPv6 equivalent is the AAAA record, and a dual-stack host publishes both.
A name that has a CNAME cannot also have an A record — see the CNAME page for why.
The value must be a literal address. Pointing an A record at another hostname is not valid.
The zone apex (example.com with no subdomain) needs an A record, not a CNAME.

Common problems

What you see	Usual cause
NXDOMAIN	The name does not exist at all — check for a typo or a missing subdomain record.
No records	The name exists but publishes no A record. It may be IPv6-only (AAAA), or an alias handled by CNAME.
The address is stale	A resolver is still serving the old value from cache. Compare resolvers with the DNS Propagation Checker and check the TTL.
SERVFAIL	Usually a broken DNSSEC signature or a delegation problem in the parent zone.

Look up another record type

Each record type has its own page with the same explanation of its fields, or use the full DNS Lookup to query every common type at once.

AAAA record MX record TXT record NS record CNAME record SOA record CAA record SRV record

Most often looked up alongside A: AAAA Record Lookup , CNAME Record Lookup , NS Record Lookup .

Data source: Public DNS-over-HTTPS resolvers. Queries go to the selected public resolver; results reflect that resolver’s cache. Learn about our data sources →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an A record and an AAAA record?

An A record holds an IPv4 address; an AAAA record holds an IPv6 address. They are independent, and most public sites publish both.

Can one domain have several A records?

Yes. Resolvers return all of them and rotate the order, which spreads traffic across the addresses. This is called round-robin DNS.

Why does my A record still show the old IP?

Resolvers cache answers for the length of the TTL. Until it expires you will keep seeing the previous address. Lowering the TTL before a planned move shortens that window.

Can I point an A record at another domain?

No. An A record only holds an IPv4 address. To alias one name to another, use a CNAME record.