CNAME Lookup
Check CNAME (canonical name) records for any domain to see where it is aliased to.
Did this tool work for you?
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter the subdomain or domain whose CNAME you want to resolve.
- 2
Click "Check Now" to query the CNAME record.
- 3
Results show the CNAME chain — what the domain ultimately points to.
- 4
If no CNAME exists, the tool will report no record found.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CNAME record?
A CNAME (Canonical Name) record creates an alias from one domain name to another. For example, www.example.com might CNAME to example.com, so both resolve to the same IP address without duplicating the A record.
Can I use a CNAME for the root domain?
Standard DNS doesn't allow a CNAME at the apex (root) domain because CNAMEs can't coexist with other records (like MX or NS). However, many DNS providers offer CNAME flattening (Cloudflare calls it "CNAME at root") which resolves the CNAME and returns the final A record.
What is a CNAME chain?
A CNAME chain is when one CNAME points to another CNAME. For example: www → staging.example.com → myapp.cdn.com → 1.2.3.4. Resolvers follow the chain until they hit an A or AAAA record. Very long chains can slow down resolution.
Can I CNAME to an external service?
Yes, CNAMEs are commonly used to point subdomains to CDNs, SaaS platforms, and hosting providers. For example, blog.example.com → example.ghost.io for a Ghost blog.
CNAME Lookup — Trace DNS aliases and canonical names
CNAME vs A record
An A record maps a name directly to an IP address. A CNAME maps a name to another name, which must ultimately resolve to an A or AAAA record. CNAMEs make it easy to point multiple subdomains to a service without managing IP addresses directly.
Common CNAME use cases
CDN integration: static.example.com → cdn.cloudflare.net. Email tracking: tracking.example.com → sendgrid.net. Custom domains for SaaS: app.example.com → myapp.vercel.app. CNAME verification for SSL and domain ownership.
Learn more from an authoritative source:
MDN Web DocsJSON Formatter & Validator
Format, validate, and minify JSON — with clear error messages for invalid input.
Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode plain text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings back to readable text.
URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode special characters in URLs (percent-encoding) or decode percent-encoded URLs.
UUID Generator
Generate UUID v4 (random) identifiers — one or in bulk.
Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →