How do domain names work?
Your domain name is the online hub of your business
Your domain name serves as the primary online address for your business. It’s a key part of your online identity and essential for establishing your presence on the internet.
Your domain connects to other services using DNS records
Your domain name is the hub that ties together all your online services using special codes called DNS records. The DNS records link your domain name to different services, such as website hosting and email. They are also used to verify and authenticate your domain for third-party services like MailChimp newsletters, Google search optimization, SSL certificates, live databases, and more.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how it works:
Main Website: The primary domain (e.g. yourdomain.com) typically points to your main website. You set this up by linking or pointing the domain to your web hosting service via DNS records (like A or CNAME records).
Subdomains for Different Services: You can use subdomains to host additional services under the same domain umbrella. For example:
- blog.yourdomain.com for a blog
- shop.yourdomain.com for an online store
- support.yourdomain.com for a customer service portal
Email: You can link your domain to an email provider (like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365) to create email addresses for your domain name, such as hello@yourdomain.com. This is done by setting up MX (Mail Exchange) records in your DNS.
DNS for Authentication & Verification: Domains often link to services through DNS for verification or configuration purposes. Examples include:
- TXT records for email verification (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to prevent spam
- CNAME records to verify your domain with third-party tools like Google Search Console, MailChimp, or social media platforms
