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A DNS A record connects a domain name to an IPv4 address. To create one, add an A record in the DNS zone that is authoritative for your domain, enter the hostname and the correct IPv4 address, then check the result. Saving a record in a dashboard will not publish it if your domain uses different nameservers.
What a DNS A record does
An A record is a DNS resource record whose data is a 32-bit IPv4 address. When a resolver looks up a name with an A record, DNS can return the associated IPv4 address so a client can connect to a service at that address.
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For example, www.example.com. 3600 IN A 192.0.2.10 shows the general shape of a record: the name, a TTL of 3600 seconds, the record class, the type, and the address. The address shown is reserved for documentation; it is not a real server address. RFC 1035 explains that “Hosts that have multiple Internet addresses will have multiple A records.” That means a name can have multiple A records, each with an IPv4 address.
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Choose the record type based on what the name should point to. An A record contains an IPv4 address; an AAAA record contains an IPv6 address; a CNAME points to another DNS name rather than directly to an IP address.
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| Record type | Target | Important constraint |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address | A name may have multiple A records. |
| AAAA | IPv6 address | Used for IPv6, not IPv4. |
| CNAME | Another DNS name | A CNAME cannot coexist with other record data at the same name. |
The CNAME restriction matters when adding an A record: if that exact name already has a CNAME, remove or change the conflicting configuration rather than trying to publish both. A and AAAA records can be used for the same name when a service is reachable over both address families.
How to create an A record
The details and labels differ by DNS provider, but the essential steps are consistent. First identify the DNS zone that actually serves the domain; then create the record there.
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- Open the authoritative DNS zone. Sign in to the provider hosting the domain’s active DNS zone and select the correct domain or public zone.
- Add a record set or record. Choose the provider’s option to create a DNS record.
- Select A. Enter the host label, such as
www, or the fully qualified name if the provider requests it. Check whether the provider appends the domain automatically. - Enter the IPv4 address. Use the address assigned to the website or service. Confirm it carefully; a valid but incorrect address can send visitors to the wrong endpoint.
- Set TTL and any provider-specific options. Use the value appropriate for your update needs and understand any proxy or routing controls offered by that provider.
- Save and verify. Query the authoritative nameservers, then compare the answer from a recursive resolver. If the domain is not delegated to this zone’s nameservers, the change will not be publicly authoritative.
Google Cloud’s documented workflow is to create or select a public managed zone, add a standard record set, choose A, and enter the IPv4 address. To publish that zone, the domain must also use the Cloud DNS nameservers. The exact console labels may change; consult Google Cloud’s DNS records overview and its Cloud DNS quickstart for the provider’s current instructions.
TTL, caching, and when changes appear
TTL, or time to live, is the period a DNS record may be cached before the cached information should be consulted again. A shorter TTL can reduce how long many caches retain an old answer, while a longer TTL can reduce repeated lookups. A TTL of zero means the record should be used only for the transaction in progress and not cached.
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Changing the authoritative record does not make every resolver immediately return the new value. Recursive resolvers may still have an earlier answer cached, and local DNS caches can add delay. For that reason, DNS updates do not have a guaranteed global completion time based only on the TTL. Changing nameservers is a separate delegation change, not merely an A-record edit.
Provider settings are not universal. Cloudflare’s documentation, updated April 16, 2026, says its proxied records use an uneditable Auto TTL of 300 seconds. For DNS-only records, the documented TTL choices range from 30 seconds for Enterprise customers or 60 seconds for non-Enterprise customers through one day; Auto is 300 seconds. Cloudflare also warns that local caches can mean users wait longer than five minutes. These values describe Cloudflare’s controls, not a general DNS rule. Its example record using TTL 3600 seconds is likewise an illustration, not a recommendation for every domain. See Cloudflare’s TTL documentation.
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What proxy status changes
Some DNS providers offer a proxy setting alongside address records. This is a provider-specific service layer, separate from the basic meaning of an A record. With Cloudflare, proxy status can affect what clients receive and how TTL is handled; the public response and origin routing may differ from a DNS-only configuration. Do not assume another provider’s proxy controls, TTL behavior, or client-visible answer work the same way. Cloudflare describes its record types and configuration fields in its DNS record types documentation.
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How to troubleshoot an A record that does not work
- Confirm the active nameservers. Verify that the domain delegates to the DNS provider where you made the edit. A correct record in an unused zone will not control public answers.
- Check the exact name and address. Make sure the hostname is in the intended zone, that the provider has not appended the domain unexpectedly, and that the IPv4 value is correct.
- Look for a CNAME conflict. The same DNS name cannot have a CNAME alongside ordinary record data such as an A record.
- Compare authoritative and recursive answers. If the authoritative server returns the new address but a recursive resolver returns the old one, caching is a plausible explanation. Check again after the relevant cache interval rather than treating one stale response as proof the record is wrong.
- Check proxy settings separately. If a provider proxy is enabled, the response seen by clients may not be the origin address entered in the record. Confirm the provider’s behavior before diagnosing the origin address as missing.
Sources and standards
- RFC 1035, Domain names—implementation and specification, November 1987: A-record address format, multiple addresses, and TTL behavior.
- RFC 2181, Clarifications to the DNS Specification, July 1997: CNAME exclusivity and DNS authority clarifications.
- Cloudflare DNS record types, updated June 2, 2026.
- Cloudflare Time to Live (TTL), updated April 16, 2026.
- Google Cloud DNS records overview and Cloud DNS quickstart.
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