CNAME

Canonical Name record

In one sentenceA DNS record that points one name to another name instead of to an IP address, like a forwarding label.

What it means

A CNAME says "www.yourdomain.com is the same as yourdomain.com" or "help.yourdomain.com is really yourcompany.helpdesk-app.com". If the target's address changes, yours follows automatically.

Hosted tools (landing page builders, help centers, email-sending services) often ask you to add a CNAME to connect your domain or verify you own it.

How to use it

• Copy the name and target exactly as the service gives them. A missing dot or extra word breaks it.
• A CNAME usually cannot sit on the bare root domain (yourdomain.com itself). Use an A record there, or a subdomain for the CNAME.

Related terms

DNS A Record TXT Record (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)