What is a CNAME (Canonical Name) record?
- A CNAME (Canonical Name) record creates an alias from one hostname to another:
- tracking.tidalmail.com CNAME links.emailprovider.com
- When someone looks up tracking.tidalmail.com, DNS returns the target, and the lookup continues from there.
- Email uses:
- Tracking domain setup for click and open tracking.
- Delegating DKIM selectors to ESP-managed records.
- Pointing subdomains to service providers.
- Limitations:
- Cannot coexist with other records at the same name (except in some modern implementations).
- Cannot be used at the apex (naked domain) with most providers.
- Adds an extra DNS lookup.
- An alias in the registry. Look up this name, but follow the redirect to the real entry.
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