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ALIAS Record

Stands For: ALIAS Record (also known as ANAME record or CNAME Flattening)

Definition: An ALIAS record is a non-standard, provider-specific type of DNS record that provides CNAME-like functionality at the root/apex of a domain. Standard CNAME records are not permitted at the root domain according to DNS specifications, and ALIAS records were created by DNS providers to overcome this limitation.

Key Characteristics:

  • Problem Solved: It allows you to point your root domain (e.g., example.com) to another hostname, which is essential when using services like CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) or PaaS (Platform as a Service) providers that do not offer static IP addresses.
  • Server-Side Resolution: Unlike a CNAME which is resolved by the client, an ALIAS record is resolved on the DNS provider’s server. The provider looks up the IP address(es) of the target hostname and responds to the query with those IPs.
  • Appears as an A/AAAA Record: To the client making the DNS query, the response from an ALIAS record looks exactly like a standard A or AAAA record response. This transparency is key to its functionality.
  • Non-Standard: The implementation and name (ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME Flattening) vary between DNS providers (e.g., AWS Route 53, Cloudflare, DNSimple) as it is not a formal IETF standard.

Comparison to CNAME:

  • Location: An ALIAS record can be used at the root/apex domain, whereas a CNAME cannot.
  • Coexistence: An ALIAS record can coexist with other records (like MX or NS records) at the root domain; a CNAME cannot coexist with any other record type on the same hostname.
  • Resolution: ALIAS records are resolved server-side by the DNS provider. CNAME records require an additional lookup by the client-side resolver.

Common Use Cases:

  • Pointing a root domain to a cloud load balancer or CDN distribution.
  • Hosting a website on a platform like GitHub Pages or Heroku using a root domain.
  • Providing a CNAME-like function for the apex of a domain.

Usage Note: As of June 2025, ALIAS records are a very common and practical solution for managing modern cloud-based infrastructure. When choosing a DNS provider, the availability and specific implementation of ALIAS or ANAME records is an important feature to consider if you need to point your root domain to an external service.