The DNS records are extremely significant in creating a website or managing the domain names. They make sure that nothing goes wrong.
CNAME And ALIAS Records are considered to be two of the most popular records. Although these might sound the same initially, they both have a very different purpose and knowing the differences between them can possibly guide you to make bolder choices when setting up your domain.
CNAME or Canonical Name is usually applied to redirect one domain to another. It is an option of choice when one wants a subdomain such as www to be directed to the original domain. Therefore, when one types in www.example.com, s/he will be taken to the same location as example.com. That is, it is simple, right? However, it has a catch to root domains (such as just example.com), in which CNAME is not as easy to implement.
That is the place of ALIAS records. They provide a mechanism to obtain similar results as experienced by CNAME except that they do not go into the root domain limitations. With ALiAS, you can initiate your root domain to a different domain or service, and also avoid some of the common limitations.
Knowing when and where to input each of these records with the help of our guide featured in our Blog can save on time and save on headaches when you are dealing with either a personal site, or an extremely big thing.
A CNAME, abbreviated Canonical Names is a method to notify the internet, Hey, it is all a different name of that other domain. That is, it is a mapping of one domain into another and therefore when one types in an address, the network directs them to an altogether different one.
It is just like providing an alias to your site. Rather than setting up multiple IP addresses or routing traffic manually, the use of CNAME gives individuals a chance to redirect a domain name to another domain name.
CNAME records are most commonly used with subdomains. An example is an instance where you would just want to redirect www.example.com to your main site which would be example.com then you would make use of CNAME record to do the redirection. This makes it keep it straight and you do not have to configure each site version separately.
But that’s not all. But that’s not all. CNAME records are also applied to services such as CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) where the domain may require redirection to alternate servers in order to achieve improved performance or content distribution.
Naturally, the CNAME record has some advantages and disadvantages.
On one hand, they are easy, and simple to operate, and they work well when it comes to altering traffic without having to change your namespaces each time you switch server.
The disadvantages include the inability to issue a CNAME at the root domain level, something that someone would find annoying. Besides, although CNAME is generally well-supported, in some instances, it creates problems with email services or site behavior due to improper configuration.
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Click HereA clever workaround is an ALIAS record. It allows you to point your domain (including the root one such as example.com) to another domain name, in sort of a CNAME would – however, without violating DNS rules. Ordinarily, one cannot use CNAMEs at the root level which is where ALIAS steps in.
Suppose you are having a root domain, say example.com, and you want to have it redirected to example.hostingplatform.com. You cannot place a CNAME there since this would create havoc with messages such as emails. However, with the ALIAS record you are fine. It sort of flattens the record behind the scenes and serves as an A record to the outside world.
Every provider may use a slightly different name to describe it, either ANAME or just plain ALIAS.
Examples of popular applications of ALIAS records are pointing your root domain to Netlify, Heroku, or Shopify. When you are using a CDN and the provider provides you with a domain (such as myapp.cdnprovider.com), but you would like your own domain to point at it cleanly.
In Pros it operates at the root level (which cannot be done by CNAME). It maintains a clean DNS configuration and dynamically clears the configuration in case the IP address of the target dynamically changes (very useful on controlled platforms).
The drawbacks are that they are not a normal DNS record hence not every provider supports it. They are also able to further slow down DNS resolution as the provider needs to resolve it first, which could impact on the Performance and Security Of your DNS. Their Behavior may differ based on which provider you are using as a DNS.
Yes, they are sort of similar at a first sight-they both allow you to point one area to another one. However, after digging a couple of layers, the few disks come into play that are important particularly when you are creating a web page or when you are working with DNS.
This is likely the biggest deal. CNAMEs cannot work in a root domain. In case you attempt to make example.com a CNAME record, you will ruin email and other DNS records. That’s just how DNS is built.
Instead, root domains are supported in the ALIAS records. That’s the whole point of them. You may simply command example.com to point directly to another domain such as your-app.hosting.com and all these will continue to work behind the scenes.
A CNAME record is closer to a pointer. When one comes to your domain, his machine notices the CNAME and queries the domain. It is a two-step process, and until the end of such processing, your DNS is not resolved to an IP.
The ALIAS entry is immediately resolved to the IP addresses- your DNS provider carries an additional task and sends the ultimate IP response. Outwardly, it supports like an A record and thus is a little more tolerant and compatible with other DNS stuff.
Here’s where it gets messy. CNAME is a normal DNS record thus essentially, all the providers accept it. Super safe and reliable and Managing ‘A’ Record and CNAME is easy.
ALIAS is not specially included in the DNS. It is a sort of a custom solution that has been developed by some providers. This implies that it may not be available in all DNS hosts, and even those who do may give it other names, such as ANAME, flattened CNAME.
In the majority of instances you will not see a great deal of difference in speed. but CNAMEs have the potential of introducing slight delay due to the additional look up operation.
Records related to ALIAS can be a little faster as they give the resultant IP directly. However, it depends on your DNS provider. Certain ones are quicker than the others and it also hinges upon the frequency by which the target domain alters its IP address.
Now all right, but what makes you know how to pick which one? It is rather easy when you know what they can do best.
A CNAME record is used when referring to sub domains like a blog or web site such as a www.example.com or a blog.example.com. It’s made for that. You can simply point it at what is seemingly yourapp.hostingplatform.com; well, that is a day. It is clean, it works and nearly all DNS providers accept it without behavioural anomalies.
Then there is no need to attempt it on a root domain (such as example.com).
And here, just in case you do need to relay your root domain to another domain name, then you have ALIAS. It allows you to do all the things that a CNAME will not allow but still maintain things flowing smoothly. It fits perfectly well in scenarios in which your primary domain is required to migrate to one of the managed systems such as Shopify or Netlify.
One more point–Not all DNS providers support ALIAS records, or they may know it under a different name. Others could use “ANAME” or even flattened CNAME. So, having gone too far, ensure you check what is supported by your provider. Keeps you out of the rut in future.
Related Article: How to Host Multiple Domains? Explore the Simple Ways
CNAME and ALIAS records have their position. Their ways of doing them are more or less alike (helping one domain point to another) but the differences come down to where and how you use them.
When you have subdomains then simply use CNAME.It is easy to use and can conduct the task as effortlessly as possible. However, when you are attempting to send your root domain to point to another place, CNAME will not work. That is where the ALIAS (or ANAME, depending on whom you are doing business) intervenes to rescue the day.
With which your DNS provider is compatible, ask them. The step alone may save you hours of confusion. And think not too hard–by having fixed the right record on your arrangement you are likely not to revisit it soon.
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Nope! CNAME is not applicable to root domains such as example.com but on a subdomain. Give it a go and it will interfere with other DNS data such as email or TXT records.
ALIAS also allows you to do what CNAME will not do i.e. direct your root domain to a different domain name. Then in case your site is hosted on some sort of platform such as Shopify, and you wish example.com to redirect there, ALIAS will come in handy.
Pretty much, yes. Various providers of DNS have different names. Some call it ALIAS, others ANAME but under the hood they are all doing roughly the same thing.
There are two ways to do it: to go out to another company that is doing it or to place a workaround such as installing redirects on the server level. It is not the best, and it can be done in a time of need.
Not really. There is technically a small delay during the resolution but unless you happen to have some insane setup in terms of high traffic you will probably not see the difference.
No. They cannot be used on the same hostname. It’s one or the other. Use what is most appropriate.
CNAME is also simpler and more universally supported. ALIAS is more open-ended but could act in a different manner, depending upon who is managing your DNS.
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