What does a DNS A record map?

• A. IPv4 Address
• B. IPv6 Address
• C. Canonical Name Alias
• D. Mail Server

Answer: (A)

The A record is the DNS entry that links a domain name to an IPv4 address. When a client asks for the IP of a hostname, the A record provides the 32-bit IPv4 address that should be used to reach that host. This is distinct from IPv6 mapping, which uses an AAAA record, and from a CNAME record, which creates an alias to another domain name rather than an IP address. An MX record is used for specifying mail servers. So the correct mapping for IPv4 is what the A record provides.