CNAME Chain Tracer
Trace a domain’s CNAME alias chain to where it finally points.
How this lookup works
A CNAME record makes one name an alias for another, so www.example.com can point at your CDN or hosting provider’s hostname. This tool queries the record and shows where the alias leads.
What the results mean
- CNAME target
- The hostname this name is an alias for. Everything else — the address, the mail servers — is then looked up on that target instead.
- No CNAME record
- Normal. Root domains cannot have a CNAME, and many names simply point straight at an address instead. It is not an error.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t my root domain have a CNAME?
A CNAME cannot coexist with other records, and a root domain must carry NS and usually MX records. That is why providers offer workarounds like ALIAS or ANAME records for the root, which behave like a CNAME but resolve differently.
What is a CNAME used for?
Pointing a subdomain at a service you do not control the address of — a CDN, a hosting platform, a status page. When their address changes, your CNAME follows automatically because it points at their name, not their number.