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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTo point a domain to a website or app, first add the domain in the host’s dashboard and copy the exact DNS record type, name, and value it specifies. Then add that record at the provider managing the domain’s authoritative DNS, verify the domain with the host, and test each hostname you intend to use. The correct values depend on the host; there is no universal IP address or CNAME target.
What it means to point a domain
A DNS record tells internet resolvers how to find a hostname. An A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address, an AAAA record maps it to an IPv6 address, and a CNAME maps it to another hostname. Your website or app host determines which record type and destination to use. Copy the values from that host’s current custom-domain instructions rather than reusing an example from a general guide. Cloudflare’s apex-record guide explains provider-specific apex options.
Pointing DNS is different from registering a domain, hosting a website, forwarding a URL, or enabling HTTPS. DNS helps resolvers find the site or app; SSL/TLS enables secure connections. A DNS change by itself does not establish that a valid certificate is available for the hostname.
Before you change anything
- Get the host’s exact settings. Find the custom-domain or domain-connection instructions in the website or app dashboard. Note the record type, name or host field, and target value.
- Identify the authoritative DNS provider. Add records wherever the domain’s authoritative nameservers are managed—not necessarily where you bought the domain. If you are unsure, check the nameserver setting at the registrar or ask the domain administrator. Authoritative nameservers provide the definitive DNS answers. See Cloudflare’s full setup guide.
- Decide which hostnames to connect. The apex (the bare domain, such as
example.com) andwww.example.comare separate hostnames. A record for one does not automatically configure the other, and the host must be set up to serve each hostname you use. - Protect existing DNS records. If you plan to move DNS to a new provider by changing nameservers, review or import the current records first. Preserve records used for email and other services, as well as verification records required by providers. Missing records can disrupt services or make the domain unreachable.
Point the domain with DNS records
- Add the custom domain at your host. In the website or app dashboard, enter the domain or hostname you want to use. Copy the exact DNS record type, name, and value the host displays; do not guess the destination.
- Open the authoritative DNS provider. Sign in to the service managing the domain’s authoritative records. If you are only adding a record, you usually do not need to change nameservers.
- Add the record for the apex, if needed. Enter the record the host specifies for the bare domain. Use
@for the apex only if your DNS provider’s interface uses that notation. - Add a separate record for
wwwor another subdomain, if needed. Use the host’s instructions for that specific hostname. Confirm that the host also recognizes and serves it. - Save and verify with the host. Return to the host’s dashboard and complete its domain verification steps. Then test the apex and each subdomain you configured, including whether each loads over HTTPS.
Choose the record approach your host and DNS provider support
The choice is driven by the host’s requirements and the DNS provider’s capabilities, not by a universally best record. An apex hostname may need an address record or a provider-supported alternative because ordinary CNAME behavior at the zone apex is not supported everywhere. Some providers offer ALIAS or ANAME behavior; Cloudflare documents CNAME flattening for the zone apex. Follow both providers’ instructions. Cloudflare’s zone-apex documentation describes its option.
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| What to compare | What to check |
|---|---|
| Destination format | Does the host require an IP address for an A or AAAA record, or a target hostname for a CNAME? |
| Apex support | Does the DNS provider support the apex record behavior the host requires, such as ALIAS, ANAME, or documented CNAME flattening? |
| DNS management | Can you keep DNS at the current provider, or does the host or another service require you to move authoritative nameservers? |
| Other services | If nameservers will move, which existing records for mail, verification, or other services must be preserved? |
| Hostname coverage | Does the host support the apex, www, or both, and have you configured each hostname you plan to use? |
Example: GitHub Pages uses host-specific values
GitHub Pages’ official custom-domain guide specifies multiple A and AAAA records or an ALIAS/ANAME option for an apex domain, and a CNAME for a subdomain. Those instructions illustrate why you must use the destination values supplied by the host; they are not general-purpose values for another website or app. GitHub also warns against wildcard records because they can create domain-takeover risk. See GitHub Pages’ custom-domain documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to expect after saving DNS
DNS changes do not necessarily appear everywhere at once. TTL settings and resolver caching affect when different users see updated answers, and provider behavior varies, so there is no reliable universal completion time. Use the host’s verification status and test the configured hostnames. If verification fails, compare the record type, name, and target in your DNS provider with the host’s instructions, and confirm you edited the authoritative DNS zone.
If the domain resolves but HTTPS does not work, treat that as a separate certificate or host-configuration issue: DNS points resolvers toward a destination, while the host must serve the hostname and support a valid TLS certificate for secure connections.
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