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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA CNAME record is a DNS record that points one hostname to another hostname instead of pointing directly to an IP address. It is commonly used to make aliases work, such as sending www.example.com to example.com, connecting a subdomain to a hosted service, or verifying a domain with a third-party platform.
Used correctly, CNAME records make DNS management easier because the alias follows the target hostname even if that target’s IP address changes. Used incorrectly, they can cause broken websites, failed email routing, redirect confusion, or DNS conflicts, especially when placed at the root domain or combined with incompatible records.
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Understanding how CNAME records work, where they can be used, and how to create, edit, verify, and troubleshoot them safely helps keep domains reliable while connecting websites, apps, CDNs, email tools, and SaaS platforms to the right destination.
What Is a CNAME Record?
A CNAME record, short for Canonical Name record, is a DNS record that points one domain name to another domain name. Instead of sending traffic directly to an IP address, a CNAME creates an alias. For example, www.example.com can be set as a CNAME that points to example.com, or blog.example.com can point to a hosted platform such as sites.example-provider.com.
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This makes CNAME records useful when you want mulle hostnames to resolve to the same destination without managing separate IP address records for each one. The hostname that contains the CNAME is the alias, and the hostname it points to is the canonical name. When someone visits the alias, DNS follows the CNAME target and then resolves that target to its final address using an A record, AAAA record, or another valid DNS response.
A simple example looks like this:
| Host | Record Type | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| www | CNAME | example.com | www.example.com is an alias of example.com |
| shop | CNAME | shops.mycommercehost.com | shop.example.com points to a third-party ecommerce service |
CNAME records are commonly used for www versions of websites, branded subdomains, customer portals, documentation sites, landing pages, status pages, CDN hostnames, and SaaS tools that ask you to connect a custom domain. For instance, an email marketing platform might ask you to create newsletter.example.com as a CNAME pointing to a hostname they control, allowing them to serve your branded page while still managing the underlying infrastructure.
There are a few constraints to understand before using one. A CNAME should generally be used for a subdomain, such as www, app, or help. It should not be placed at the root or apex of a domain, such as example.com, in standard DNS, because the root usually needs other records like NS, SOA, MX, and TXT records. Some DNS providers offer alternatives such as ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME flattening to provide similar behavior at the root domain.
A CNAME record also cannot coexist with most other record types on the same hostname. If blog.example.com has a CNAME record, you should not also create an A, AAAA, MX, or TXT record for blog.example.com. Keeping that hostname dedicated to the CNAME avoids conflicting DNS answers and makes resolution predictable.
How CNAME Records Work in DNS
A CNAME record works by telling DNS resolvers that one hostname is an alias of another hostname. Instead of pointing directly to an IP address, the alias points to a canonical name, which then has its own DNS records. For example, www.example.com can be a CNAME for example.com, or shop.example.com can be a CNAME for a hosted ecommerce platform such as stores.provider.com.
When someone enters a domain such as www.example.com in a browser, the DNS lookup usually starts with a resolver operated by the user’s ISP, network, or public DNS provider. The resolver checks whether it already has a cached answer. If not, it follows the DNS hierarchy to find the authoritative nameservers for the domain. If the authoritative nameserver returns a CNAME, the resolver does not stop there. It then performs another lookup for the target hostname named in the CNAME record.
Example DNS lookup flow
- A user visits www.example.com.
- The resolver asks the authoritative DNS server for the record for www.example.com.
- The DNS server responds that www.example.com is a CNAME for example.com or another target hostname.
- The resolver then looks up the target hostname’s address records, such as A records for IPv4 or AAAA records for IPv6.
- The resolver returns the final IP address to the browser, which connects to the web server or service.
This aliasing behavior is useful because it lets you manage the destination in one place. If app.example.com points to customer123.hosting-service.com, and the hosting provider changes the underlying IP addresses, you usually do not need to update your DNS record. The provider updates the records for its own hostname, and your CNAME continues to follow that target.
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| Hostname | Record Type | Value | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| www.example.com | CNAME | example.com | www follows the DNS records of example.com |
| blog.example.com | CNAME | sites.hostingprovider.com | blog routes to a third-party platform |
| cdn.example.com | CNAME | example.cdnprovider.net | cdn routes through a content delivery network |
CNAME records also interact with DNS caching through the record’s TTL, or time to live. The TTL tells resolvers how long they may cache the CNAME response before checking again. A shorter TTL, such as 300 seconds, can help during migrations because changes are picked up more quickly. A longer TTL, such as 3600 seconds or more, can reduce repeated DNS queries once the configuration is stable.
There are a few constraints to keep in mind. A hostname with a CNAME record generally cannot have other record types at the same exact name, such as MX, TXT, or A records. This is the root domain, also called the zone apex, is often not configured with a traditional CNAME. Many DNS providers offer alternatives such as ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME flattening for apex-style aliasing while still returning address records to resolvers.
Common Uses for CNAME Records
CNAME records are most useful when one hostname needs to act as an alias for another hostname. Instead of pointing a name directly to an IP address, a CNAME points it to a canonical domain name that already has its own DNS records. This makes management easier because you can update the destination in one place while keeping mulle aliases working.
Using CNAME records for www domains
One of the most common uses is connecting the www version of a domain to the root domain or to a hosting provider’s assigned hostname. For example, www.example.com might be set as a CNAME for example.com or for a platform hostname such as example.hostingprovider.com. When someone visits www.example.com, DNS follows the alias and resolves the destination hostname instead.
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CNAME records are widely used for subdomains such as blog.example.com, shop.example.com, help.example.com, or app.example.com. This setup is common when different parts of a website are handled by different systems. A company might host its main website on one provider, its store on an ecommerce platform, its documentation on a help desk platform, and its application dashboard on a separate cloud service.
- blog.example.com can point to a managed blogging platform.
- shop.example.com can point to an ecommerce provider.
- support.example.com can point to a customer support portal.
- status.example.com can point to an uptime status page provider.
Connecting domains to third-party platforms
Many SaaS platforms ask customers to create a CNAME record during setup. This allows the platform to serve content under the customer’s own branded subdomain while still controlling the underlying infrastructure. For example, an email marketing tool may ask you to point links.example.com to a tracking hostname, while a landing page builder may ask you to point pages.example.com to its publishing endpoint.
| Use case | Example alias | Example target |
|---|---|---|
| Website hosting | www.example.com | example.hostingprovider.com |
| Help center | help.example.com | company.helpdesk.com |
| Online store | shop.example.com | storefront.ecommerceplatform.com |
| Status page | status.example.com | statuspage.provider.com |
CNAME records are generally best suited for subdomains, not the root or apex domain such as example.com. Standard DNS rules do not allow a CNAME at the same name as records like NS, SOA, MX, or TXT, which are often required at the root. Some DNS providers offer alternatives such as ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME flattening for root-domain behavior. Before creating a CNAME, check whether the hostname already has another record type, because a CNAME cannot safely coexist with most other records at the same exact name.
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How to Create a CNAME Record
Creating a CNAME record means adding an alias in your domain’s DNS zone so one hostname points to another hostname. Before you start, confirm two details: the host you want to alias, such as www, blog, or shop, and the target hostname it should point to, such as example.com, sites.example-provider.com, or a service-specific domain supplied by a platform. The target should be a domain name, not an IP address; if you need to point directly to an IP address, use an A or AAAA record instead.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTo create the record, sign in to the DNS provider that manages your domain’s authoritative nameservers. This might be your domain registrar, hosting company, CDN, or dedicated DNS provider. Open the DNS management area for the domain, then choose the option to add a new record. Select CNAME as the record type and enter the hostname in the name, host, or alias field. For example, to create www.example.com, many DNS panels require only www; to create blog.example.com, enter blog.
- Choose the record type: Select CNAME from the DNS record type list.
- Enter the host/name: Use the subdomain label, such as www, app, or help. Avoid entering the full domain unless your provider specifically asks for it.
- Enter the target/value: Add the destination hostname exactly as provided, such as example.com or custom.servicehost.com.
- Set the TTL: Use the default value if you are unsure. A TTL between 300 and 3600 seconds is common for records that may need future changes.
- Save the record: Apply or save the DNS change, then allow time for DNS caches to update.
A common example is creating www.example.com as an alias for example.com. In that case, the CNAME host is www, and the target may be example.com. Another frequent setup is connecting a subdomain to a third-party service. For instance, a documentation platform might ask you to create a CNAME where docs points to yourcompany.docs-provider.com. Always copy the provider’s target hostname carefully, including any required trailing domain portion, because a small typo can prevent validation or routing.
| Use case | Host/name | Target/value |
|---|---|---|
| Website alias | www | example.com |
| Blog subdomain | blog | hosting-platform.example.net |
| Help center | help | support-provider.example.com |
Do not create a CNAME at the root domain, such as example.com, unless your DNS provider offers a special flattened CNAME, ANAME, or ALIAS feature. Standard DNS rules do not allow a CNAME at the zone apex when other required records, such as NS, SOA, MX, or TXT records, also exist there. Also check that the hostname does not already have another record type. A name such as shop.example.com generally cannot have both a CNAME and an A record at the same time. After saving, wait for propagation based on the TTL, then verify the result with a DNS lookup tool before assuming the alias is live.
How to Edit or Delete a CNAME Record
Editing or deleting a CNAME record is usually done in the DNS management area of your domain registrar, hosting provider, or dedicated DNS provider such as Cloudflare, Route 53, or Google Cloud DNS. Before making changes, identify the exact hostname you want to modify, such as www, blog, shop, or app. Also confirm the current target value, since changing a CNAME affects where that alias sends traffic.
To edit a CNAME record, open your DNS zone editor and find the existing record with the matching name. Update the target, value, or points to field to the new canonical hostname. For example, you might change www from old-site.examplehost.com to new-site.examplehost.com. Do not enter http://, https://, paths, query strings, or port numbers in a CNAME target. A valid CNAME target is a hostname, such as example.provider.com, not a full URL like https://example.provider.com/store.
Safe steps for editing a CNAME
- Record the current settings. Copy the existing name, target, TTL, and proxy status if your DNS provider has one.
- Lower the TTL before a planned change. If possible, reduce the TTL to 300 seconds several hours in advance so updates can propagate faster.
- Edit only the intended record. Similar names such as www and www-staging can be easy to confuse.
- Save the change. Some providers require an extra confirmation step before the DNS zone is updated.
- Test from multiple locations. DNS caches may show different answers until the previous TTL expires.
Deleting a CNAME record removes the alias entirely. This is appropriate when a subdomain is no longer used, when you are replacing the CNAME with another record type, or when a third-party service has been disconnected. For instance, if blog.example.com used to point to a hosted blogging platform and the blog has been moved elsewhere, you may delete that CNAME and create the new required DNS record. After deletion, visitors may see connection errors, browser warnings, or service-specific error pages until a replacement record is added and DNS caches refresh.
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Records to check before deleting
- Conflicting records: A hostname with a CNAME should not also have A, AAAA, MX, TXT, or other records at the same name.
- Email dependencies: Do not delete records related to mail services unless you have confirmed they are unused.
- Service verification: Some platforms require a CNAME to prove domain ownership or keep a custom domain active.
- Root domain limits: Standard CNAME records are not used at the zone apex, such as example.com, because the root usually needs NS, SOA, MX, and other records.
If you are replacing a CNAME with another record type, delete the CNAME first, then add the new record after the provider accepts the removal. Many DNS interfaces prevent saving a new A, AAAA, or TXT record at the same hostname while a CNAME exists. For high-traffic domains, schedule the change during a low-usage period, keep a copy of the old value, and be ready to restore it if the new destination does not respond as expected.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to Verify and Troubleshoot a CNAME Record
After creating or changing a CNAME record, verify that public DNS resolvers return the alias you expect. DNS changes are not always instant because recursive resolvers may cache the previous answer until its TTL expires. If you lowered the TTL before making the change, results may update sooner; if not, allow time for older cached responses to clear before assuming the record is broken.
Check the CNAME response
Use a DNS lookup tool such as dig, nslookup, or an online DNS checker. Query the full hostname, not just the root domain. For example, if you created a record for www.example.com, query that exact name. A healthy response should show that the hostname is an alias of the target hostname, such as example-site.hostingprovider.com. The target should usually resolve onward to A or AAAA records so browsers can reach an IP address.
- dig: Run a CNAME query for the hostname and confirm the returned canonical name matches the intended target.
- nslookup: Query the alias hostname and review the “canonical name” or alias line in the output.
- Online DNS checkers: Compare results from several regions to see whether propagation is consistent globally.
- Authoritative nameserver checks: Query the domain’s authoritative nameservers directly to confirm the record exists at the source.
Common CNAME problems
If the record does not resolve, first confirm that you are editing DNS at the correct provider. Domains often use nameservers from a registrar, DNS platform, CDN, or hosting company, and changes made in the wrong dashboard will have no effect. Check the domain’s NS records and compare them with the provider where you edited the zone. Also verify that the host field is entered correctly: many DNS panels expect only www or blog, while others expect the full hostname.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME not found | Wrong DNS provider or host value | Confirm authoritative nameservers and the exact hostname |
| Old target still appears | Cached DNS response | Wait for the previous TTL to expire and test from another resolver |
| DNS panel rejects the record | Conflict with another record | Remove any A, AAAA, MX, TXT, or other records at the same name if a CNAME is required |
| Browser shows a certificate error | Service is not configured for the hostname | Add the custom domain in the third-party service and provision SSL |
| Redirect does not happen | CNAME is not an HTTP redirect | Configure redirects in the web server, CDN, or hosting platform |
Be careful with CNAME records at the zone apex, such as example.com. Standard DNS does not allow a CNAME at the root when other required records, such as NS and SOA, already exist. Some DNS providers offer ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME flattening for this use case. These provider-specific options can point the root domain to another hostname while still returning address records to DNS clients.
When troubleshooting third-party services, confirm both sides of the setup. The DNS record must point to the exact target supplied by the provider, and the provider must recognize your custom hostname in its own dashboard. If verification fails, look for extra spaces, missing trailing dots, duplicate records, proxy settings in a CDN, or a target hostname copied from the wrong environment. Once DNS returns the correct CNAME and the destination service accepts the hostname, test the site or application over both HTTP and HTTPS to confirm the full path works.
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Can I create a CNAME record for my root domain?
Standard DNS rules do not allow a CNAME at the root domain, such as example.com, because the root must also have required records like NS and SOA. Many DNS providers offer alternatives called ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME flattening that behave similarly while still working at the root. If your provider supports one of these, use it for pointing the root domain to another hostname.
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How long does it take for a new CNAME record to start working?
A CNAME record can start working within minutes, but full propagation may take several hours depending on the TTL value and DNS caching. If the old record had a long TTL, some users may continue seeing the previous destination until cached data expires. Lowering the TTL before making a planned change can make updates take effect faster.
Can I point a CNAME record to an IP address?
No, a CNAME must point to another hostname, such as app.example.com or service.provider.com. If you need to point a name directly to an IPv4 address, use an A record instead. For an IPv6 address, use an AAAA record.
What happens if I already have another DNS record with the same name as my CNAME?
A hostname with a CNAME record should not have other record types on the same name. For example, if www.example.com has a CNAME, it should not also have an A, AAAA, MX, or TXT record. Delete or change the conflicting record before adding the CNAME to avoid DNS errors and unreliable resolution.
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How can I check if my CNAME record is set up correctly?
Use a DNS lookup tool and query the exact hostname you created, such as www.example.com. The result should show the CNAME target you entered, followed by the final A or AAAA record that the target resolves to. If it does not appear, check for typos, missing trailing domains, incorrect DNS zone settings, and cached results from the previous TTL.
Bottom Line
A CNAME record is a simple but DNS tool for pointing one hostname to another, whether you are setting up www, connecting a subdomain, or verifying a third-party service. Used correctly, it keeps aliases easier to manage because updates happen at the target hostname rather than across multiple duplicate records.
Before creating or editing a CNAME, confirm the exact host and target values, avoid conflicts with other DNS records, and allow time for DNS propagation. After saving changes, verify the record with a DNS lookup tool and troubleshoot issues by checking spelling, TTL, provider requirements, and whether another record is blocking the alias.
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