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Glossary

What is an A Record?

Quick Definition
An A Record (Address Record) is a DNS entry that maps a domain name to the specific physical IP address of the server hosting the website. It is the most fundamental record in a digital foundation, acting as the final connection point between a human-readable URL and a web server.

When a user enters a domain into a browser, the DNS resolver looks for the A Record to determine where to send the request.

During an audit, we verify that A Records are pointed specifically to a secured server rather than a generic parking page or a defunct host. Mismanaged A Records are a primary cause of site downtime. We ensure that these records have an appropriate TTL (Time to Live) so that if a server move is necessary, the transition happens without extended service interruption.