CNAME Record Lookup
Find canonical name records and aliases
This page provides original, human-reviewed information about CNAME record lookups, covering alias resolution chains, CNAME flattening at zone apex, and conflicts with other record types.
CNAME (Canonical Name) records create aliases that point one domain name to another. Instead of pointing directly to an IP address, they point to another domain name, which then resolves to an IP address.
Common Use Cases:
- WWW Subdomain:Point www.example.com to example.com
- CDN Integration:Point assets.example.com to cdn.provider.com
- Service Aliases:Point blog.example.com to hosting.provider.com
- Load Balancing:Point to load balancer hostnames
How CNAME Resolution Works:
- DNS query for www.example.com
- DNS returns CNAME pointing to example.com
- DNS then queries for example.com A record
- Final IP address is returned to client
Basic CNAME Configuration:
Common CNAME Examples:
WWW Alias
Points www subdomain to root domain
CDN Integration
Points assets to CloudFront distribution
Service Alias
Points to external email service
CNAME at Root Domain
Cannot create CNAME for root domain (@)
Solution: Use A record for root domain, CNAME for subdomains
CNAME Chain Too Long
Multiple CNAME records creating long resolution chain
Solution: Minimize CNAME chains, point directly to final target
CNAME Loop
CNAME records pointing to each other in a loop
Solution: Check CNAME targets and break the loop
When should I use CNAME vs A records?
Use CNAME for aliases and when the target IP might change. Use A records for direct IP mapping androot domains.
Can I have multiple CNAME records for one name?
No, each name can have only one CNAME record, and it cannot coexist with other record types.
Do CNAME records affect performance?
CNAME records add an extra DNS lookup step, which can slightly increase resolution time. Keepchains short for best performance.
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