A Record

An A record (Address record) is a fundamental DNS (Domain Name System) entry that maps a human-readable domain name to a specific IPv4 address. It acts as the phonebook of the internet: when a visitor types a domain into their browser, the DNS resolver looks up the A record to find the numerical IP address of the server hosting that domain's content. A records only handle IPv4 addresses (the familiar four-number format like 203.0.113.50). For IPv6 addresses, the equivalent is an AAAA record. Every domain that serves a website or web application needs at least one A record or its equivalent pointing to the correct server.

For digital publishers who want flipbooks and documents served from their own branded domain rather than a generic URL, the A record is the first link in the chain. A correctly configured A record ensures that visitors who type your domain reach your content, not a blank page or an error. Custom domains build trust with readers, reinforce brand identity, and improve recognition in search results. Misconfigured A records are one of the most common causes of "site not found" errors, and because DNS changes can take hours to propagate, catching mistakes early saves significant downtime.

FlipLink's [custom domains](/features/custom-domains) feature lets you serve publications from a domain you own. During setup, you add an A record (or a CNAME record for subdomains) in your domain registrar's DNS panel that points to FlipLink's server IP address. Once the DNS change propagates — typically within a few minutes to a few hours — your flipbooks and documents become accessible at your custom domain. FlipLink handles SSL certificate provisioning automatically through Let's Encrypt, so your branded URL is served over HTTPS without any manual certificate management. If you are mapping a subdomain like docs.yourcompany.com, a CNAME record pointing to FlipLink's hostname is often the simpler choice, but root domains (yourcompany.com) require an A record because the DNS specification does not allow CNAME records at the zone apex.

An A record consists of three main components: the **host** (the domain or subdomain you are mapping), the **value** (the IPv4 address of the destination server), and the **TTL** (Time to Live, which controls how long DNS resolvers cache the record before checking for updates). A typical TTL value is 3600 seconds (one hour), but during initial setup or migration it is useful to set a lower TTL (300 seconds) so changes take effect faster. Once everything is confirmed working, you can raise the TTL to reduce DNS lookup overhead. DNS propagation — the time it takes for all resolvers worldwide to pick up a change — depends on the old TTL value. If the previous TTL was 86400 (24 hours), some visitors may still see the old IP for up to a day after the change. Most modern registrars and DNS providers display the current propagation status in their dashboard.

1. **Get the target IP address** — Copy the IPv4 address from your FlipLink custom domain settings page. 2. **Log in to your domain registrar** — Open the DNS management panel for the domain you want to map. 3. **Create or edit the A record** — Set the host field to `@` (for the root domain) or the desired subdomain prefix (e.g., `docs`). Paste the FlipLink IP address as the value. 4. **Set a low TTL** — Use 300 seconds during setup so changes propagate quickly. Increase it later. 5. **Save and wait for propagation** — Check progress using a DNS lookup tool or the command `dig yourdomain.com A`. 6. **Add the domain in FlipLink** — Go to your publication settings, enter the custom domain, and FlipLink will verify the DNS and provision the SSL certificate. 7. **Verify HTTPS** — Visit your custom domain in a browser and confirm the padlock icon appears.

**What is the difference between an A record and a CNAME record?** An A record maps a domain directly to an IP address, while a CNAME record maps a domain to another domain name (which itself resolves to an IP via its own A record). For subdomains like docs.yourcompany.com, either works with FlipLink. For root domains (yourcompany.com without a prefix), you must use an A record because the DNS standard does not allow CNAME at the zone apex. **How long does it take for an A record change to take effect?** Propagation depends on the TTL of the previous record. If the old TTL was one hour, most visitors will see the new destination within an hour. Setting a low TTL before making changes speeds this up. Full worldwide propagation rarely takes more than 48 hours. **Can I have multiple A records for the same domain?** Yes. Multiple A records for the same host create a simple round-robin load balancing setup, where DNS resolvers rotate through the listed IP addresses. However, for FlipLink custom domain setup, you typically need just one A record pointing to the provided IP address.