Pronunciation: [sˈiːnˈe͡ɪm ɹˈɛkɔːd] (IPA) 
The spelling of the term "cname record" follows English spelling conventions with the use of the letter C representing the sound /si:/ and the letter A representing the sound /eɪ/. The letter N is pronounced /ɛn/ and the ending -me is pronounced /m/. The word record follows the phonetic pattern of /rɪˈkɔːd/. Overall, the IPA transcription for the term "cname record" is /siːneɪm ˈrɛkɔːd/.
A CNAME record, short for Canonical Name record, is a type of Domain Name System (DNS) resource record used to create an alias or nickname for a domain name. It is primarily used to map a domain or subdomain to another domain or subdomain. Instead of directly associating an IP address with a domain, a CNAME record enables the domain to be associated with the A (Address) record of another domain, allowing multiple domain names to point to the same IP address or host.
CNAME records are particularly useful when redirecting traffic from one domain to another, such as when a website is moved to a new domain or subdomain. By creating a CNAME record, visitors typing the original domain name will automatically be redirected to the new domain, ensuring a seamless user experience. CNAME records are also used for load balancing purposes, enabling several domains to distribute traffic among multiple server locations.
It's important to note that CNAME records cannot coexist with other record types (such as A or MX records) for the same domain. They must be used exclusively for mapping one domain or subdomain to another. Additionally, CNAME records should only be created for domains or subdomains, not for the apex or root domain itself.
The term "CNAME record" is derived from the abbreviation of Canonical Name record.
The word "canonical" here refers to a standard or authoritative representation. In Domain Name System (DNS), a CNAME record is used to define an alias or canonical name for a domain or subdomain. It allows multiple domain names to be associated with the same IP address.
The "C" in CNAME stands for "canonical", indicating that the record provides the canonical or standardized name for a domain or subdomain.
