What is a CNAME record?
Learn what a CNAME record is, how aliases work, and when to use CNAME instead of A or AAAA records.
What a CNAME does
A CNAME record creates an alias from one hostname to another hostname.
Instead of pointing directly to an IP address, the alias points to a canonical target name that then resolves further.
When CNAME is useful
CNAME records are often used with CDNs, SaaS platforms, and cloud-managed services where the final target hostname is managed externally.
They make it easier to repoint services without changing client-facing hostnames.
Common limitations
- A CNAME points to a hostname, not directly to an IP
- The same hostname usually should not have both a CNAME and other conflicting record types
- Root or apex domain behavior depends on provider capabilities