A CNAME record is a DNS record that points one hostname to another hostname. It is often used for www, subdomains, website builders, email tools, and third-party services.
CNAME stands for canonical name. In practice, it means one name is acting as an alias for another.
What a CNAME Record Looks Like
A CNAME record usually has:
- Name or host
- Value or points to
- TTL
For example:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | www | yourbusiness.ca |
This means www.yourbusiness.ca points to yourbusiness.ca.
Another example:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | blog | example.hostingplatform.com |
This means blog.yourbusiness.ca points to another hostname provided by a service.
What CNAME Records Are Used For
CNAME records are commonly used to:
- Make
wwwwork - Connect subdomains
- Verify or connect website builders
- Connect email marketing platforms
- Connect customer portals
- Point service-specific hostnames to provider hostnames
They are useful when a service gives you a hostname instead of an IP address.
CNAME vs A Record
An A record points to an IP address.
A CNAME record points to another hostname.
If your hosting provider gives you an IP address, you may need an A record. If a platform gives you a hostname, you may need a CNAME record.
Use the record type requested by the service you are connecting.
CNAME and the Root Domain
Many DNS systems do not allow a CNAME at the root domain, such as yourbusiness.ca. The root domain usually uses an A record or another provider-specific record type.
CNAME records are most often used for names such as:
wwwblogshopmailverify
If a service asks for a root-domain CNAME and your DNS provider does not allow it, look for that provider’s supported alternative or ask the service for an A record option.
When You Might Add a CNAME
You may add a CNAME when:
wwwdoes not work- A website builder gives you a hostname
- You are connecting a landing page tool
- You are setting up a subdomain
- An email or marketing platform needs verification
- A service asks you to add a host and target value
Before adding it, check whether a record with the same name already exists. DNS usually does not allow a CNAME to share the same name with another active record.
Where to Add a CNAME
Add the CNAME wherever your domain’s DNS records are managed.
If the domain uses Tech Help Canada Hosting DNS, start from the Tech Help Canada Hosting account area and open the domain’s DNS records.
If the domain uses another DNS provider, add the CNAME there.
Common CNAME Problems
The host is entered as the full domain when the DNS editor only expects the prefix.
The value is missing a required provider hostname.
Another record already exists with the same name.
The CNAME was added in the wrong DNS account.
The root domain was changed when only www needed a record.
The record has not finished updating across networks.
Testing a CNAME
After adding or editing a CNAME, test the exact hostname.
If you changed www, test www.yourbusiness.ca.
If you changed blog, test blog.yourbusiness.ca.
If the CNAME connects to a website tool, also check whether SSL is active for that hostname.
Tech Help Canada’s basics of website URLs resource can help you understand how hostnames and page URLs fit together.
If you are using a builder that needs domain connection, you can explore Website Builder through Tech Help Canada Hosting.
I can suggest related Tech Help Canada articles based on the topic you’re reading now.
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