BeginnerPhone
2 min
DNS A Record vs CNAME
DNSNetworkingWeb
Advertisement
Interview Question
What is the difference between an A record and a CNAME record in DNS, and when would you use each?
Key Points to Cover
- A record maps a name to an IPv4 address
- CNAME maps a name to another canonical name
- Use CNAME for aliasing; A for direct address; apex usually requires A/ALIAS
Evaluation Rubric
Defines A record correctly34% weight
Defines CNAME and purpose33% weight
Gives valid usage constraints (apex)33% weight
Hints
- 💡Some DNS providers offer ALIAS/ANAME for apex CNAME-like behavior.
Potential Follow-up Questions
- ❓What about AAAA records?
- ❓How do TTLs impact failover?
Advertisement