DNS
What is CNAME Record (Canonical Name Record)?
A DNS record that aliases one hostname to another, commonly used for custom tracking domains and delegated DKIM.
A CNAME record points a subdomain to another canonical hostname rather than to an IP address, so resolution follows the target's records. In email it is used to set up branded tracking and click domains and to delegate DKIM or return-path management to an email service provider that can rotate keys for you. A CNAME cannot coexist with other record types on the same name and is not permitted at the root domain.
Why it matters for cold email
Cold-email platforms often require a custom tracking domain configured via CNAME so open and click links use your own domain instead of a shared, potentially blocklisted one. CNAME delegation also lets your sending provider keep DKIM keys and the return-path aligned without you editing DNS for every rotation.
Related terms
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