A CNAME lookup tool is a free tool used to retrieve and verify CNAME (Canonical Name) records associated with a specific domain name. Think of it like a phone book lookup for websites.
To find the CNAME records associated with your domain, simply enter your domain name in Smartlead’s CNAME Lookup tool.
The CNAME lookup tool is useful for troubleshooting DNS configurations, verifying DNS records, and understanding the redirection paths of domain names on the internet. You also can understand how domains are mapped to other domains through CNAME records.
A CNAME record, short for Canonical Name record, acts as an alias within the DNS system. Imagine having a nickname for your website. A CNAME (Canonical Name) record is a type of DNS (Domain Name System) record used to alias one domain name to another. It allows multiple domain names to resolve to the same IP address.
When a user queries the alias domain, the DNS resolver follows the CNAME record and resolves it to the canonical domain, effectively redirecting the user to the target domain. CNAME records are commonly used for creating subdomains, managing website redirections, and simplifying domain management, especially when the canonical domain frequently changes or points to different servers.
Record
Type
Value
Time to live (TTL)
WWW
CNAME
abc.com
3600
Let's say you have a website www.yourcompany.com hosted on a server with the domain name webserver1.yourcompany.com.
You can create a CNAME record for www.yourcompany.com that points to webserver1.yourcompany.com. When someone types www.yourcompany.com in their browser, the CNAME record directs them to the actual website location.
CNAME Record: Points a domain name (alias) to another domain name (the actual website).
A Record: Points a domain name to an IP address (the location of the website's server).
It is technically possible but generally not recommended. Chaining CNAME records can introduce additional DNS lookups, potentially slowing down website loading times.
While not a direct ranking factor, CNAME records can influence SEO in some ways:
Subdomain Authority: Search engines may consider the authority of the canonical domain to which the CNAME record points.
Content Relevance: Using the CNAME record, ensure the content on the canonical domain aligns with the subdomain for optimal SEO results.
If a CNAME record inadvertently points to a malicious website, it could expose users to malware or phishing attacks. It's crucial to verify the legitimacy of the domain a CNAME record points to.
Several free online CNAME lookup tools are available, like the one provided by Smartlead. These tools typically require you to enter the domain name you want to investigate and then retrieve and display the corresponding CNAME record (if it exists).