An A Record (Address Record) is the most fundamental type of DNS record. Its primary function is to map a domain name to the IP address of the server hosting that domain's website. Think of it as the internet's phone book: when someone types your domain name (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com) into their browser, the A record provides the numerical IP address (like 192.0.2.1) where the site's files are stored, allowing the browser to load the correct page.

Key points about A Records:

• They point domain names to IPv4 addresses.
• They are essential for your website to be publicly accessible.
• You typically need one for your root domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) and often another for the 'www' subdomain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com).

When you set up web hosting, you or your provider will configure the A record to point to your server's IP. Changes to A records can take some time to propagate across the global DNS system. Understanding and correctly managing your A record is crucial for ensuring your website is online and reachable by your visitors.