DNS server is something everyone who is interested in computer software systems or a professional is aware of. But have you heard of CNAME DNS?
CNAME stands for Canonical Name Record. It is a type of DNS record that allows you to create an alias (a name) for your domain. This way, if someone types in the alias instead of the full URL address, they will be redirected to the correct site.
How Does CNAME DNS Work?
Let’s say you have a website at www.example-domain.com but want people to visit example-alias when they enter it into their browser address bar. All you need to do is add a CNAME record with www as the value and example-alias as its target hostname on your web hosting provider’s administration panel.
What Is A CNAME Record?
CNAME stands for Canonical Name Record. It’s an alias of your domain/website. For example, if you own the domain blog, its CNAME record might be set to CNAME.domain.com. If someone visits CNAME.domain.com in their browser, they will be redirected to the blog. In the same way that if you type in an email address instead of a domain, you get the same result.
How Do I Add A CNAME Record To DNS??
If you’re working with a web hosting provider, adding a CNAME record to DNS is usually quite simple. Just login to your account and go to the DNS records section or advanced DNS records section to add a CNAME record and choose CNAME as the record type. You just need the domain name and the target hostname. The value of the record will be all lowercase, regardless of how you type it in. If you want to add a CNAME for an email domain, contact your hosting provider and ask them how to add a CNAME for email.
How To Add A CNAME Record In GoDaddy DNS?
- Log in to your GoDaddy account and click the cog icon on the top right.
- Click the ZONE EDITOR option in the drop-down menu > select the domain you want to edit.
- Under the Additional Zone Records section, click CNAME record.
- Add your domain name in the Host field and enter the alias target hostname of that domain (e.g., CNAME.domain.com) in the CNAME field > click ADD RECORD button.
How To Add CNAME Record In Namecheap DNS?
- Login to your Namecheap account and click on Manage next to the domain you want to edit.
- Under the Advanced DNS section, click CNAME RECORD.
- Add your domain name in the Host field and enter the alias target hostname of that domain (e.g., CNAME.domain.com) in the CNAME field > click ADD button.
How To Create A CNAME Record With CloudFlare Free DNS?
- Login to your Cloudflare account, go to the DNS app in the top menu > select your domain.
- Under the CNAME Record section, add alias target hostname of that domain (e.g., CNAME . domain . com) in the CNAME field > click ADD RECORD button to save changes.
Uses Of CNAME Record
- Creating self-hosted email (e.g., john@CNAME . domain.com)
- Pointing your custom subdomain to the same hosting provider’s IP address
- Creating a catch-all email for your domain (e.g., *@CNAME . domain.com)
- Redirecting to another domain name.
- Creating aliases for your website (e.g., blog. domain . com, help. domain . com)
When Should I Use The CNAME Record?
You can find most examples of this type in tutorials where you need to point your domain name to a hosting provider’s IP address or redirect users from one domain/subdomain to another (e.g., blog).
Are CNAME Records Secure?
CNAME records are generally more secure than A or MX records, but only to a certain extent. CNAME records are only as secure as the company you buy them from since they can be used to help cybercriminals track your online activities.
Can A CNAME Point To A Subdomain?
Yes, you can set up a CNAME to point your domain name to a subdomain of the same hosting provider (e.g., CNAME.domain.com to CNAME-subdomain . domain . com).
What Is The Difference Between A Record And CNAME Record?
A record is used to point to an IP address of a domain, while a CNAME is used for creating an alias in your website. So with CNAME, you can redirect your domain example alias to an IP address of another website. A record can’t do that. Also, A records are always editable, while CNAME is only available in the hostname section of your domain overview.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using CNAME?
Advantages
- It allows you to keep your domain name even if the hosting is changed.
- You can create aliases for your domain.
Disadvantages
- All incoming email addresses will be lost when CNAME change takes place.
- CNAME records are only as secure as the company you buy them from since they can be used to help cyber criminals track your online activities.
Conclusion
CNAME is a simple and effective solution for hosting your website on the cloud. It allows you to keep your domain name even if the hosting is changed, creates aliases for your domain, or redirect users from one domain/subdomain to another (e.g., blog). The above steps will show how easy adding CNAME records in your GoDaddy DNS, Namecheap, or Cloudflare free DNS is.
