CNAME Record Restrictions at Root Domain

6/10 Medium

DNS rules prohibit CNAME records at the root/apex domain (e.g., example.com) because root domains must host other record types like MX records for email. This is a common developer mistake with no straightforward solution.

DNS
Category
config
Workaround
partial
Stage
debug
Freshness
persistent
Scope
cross_platform
Recurring
Yes
Buyer Type
individual

Sources

Collection History

Query: “What are the most common pain points with DNS for developers in 2025?”4/9/2026

The DNS rules say you cannot put a CNAME record on your root domain (also called the "apex domain," e.g., example.com without the www). This is because the root domain must also have other records like MX records for email. This is a very common mistake.

Created: 4/9/2026Updated: 4/9/2026