What type of Domain Name System (DNS) record holds information such as 2001:4860:4860:8888?

The correct answer is the AAAA Record, which is designed to store IPv6 address information. This type of DNS record allows domain names to resolve to 128-bit IP addresses, which are a hallmark of the IPv6 protocol. In this case, the address 2001:4860:4860:8888 is an IPv6 address, demonstrating the role of an AAAA Record in facilitating communication on networks that utilize IPv6.

The AAAA Record is essential for enabling devices to locate one another on the internet when using IPv6, ensuring that web requests are directed to the correct server. This is particularly relevant as the internet transitions from IPv4, where addresses are 32-bit and can be smaller in number, to IPv6, which accommodates a vastly larger set of unique addresses.

In contrast, A Records are used for IPv4 addresses, CNAME Records serve as aliases pointing to other domain names, and MX Records are specifically for mail exchange servers within a domain. Each of these serves distinct functions within the DNS framework, but none provide the capability to resolve IPv6 addresses like the AAAA Record does.