Domains · Website glossary

Apex domain

Quick answer · What is Apex domain?

The domain at the top of a particular DNS zone, also called the zone apex.

IN PRACTICE

Apex domain: an example

For a zone named example.com, example.com is its apex and www.example.com is a name below it.

KEEP IN MIND

The apex needs records such as SOA and NS, so ordinary CNAME rules limit using a CNAME there.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of Apex domain?

For a zone named example.com, example.com is its apex and www.example.com is a name below it.

Why is an ordinary CNAME limited at the zone apex?

The apex needs records such as SOA and NS, so ordinary CNAME rules limit using a CNAME there.

Which concepts should I read alongside Apex domain?

DNS zone: An administratively managed portion of the DNS namespace for which a server provides authoritative data.
CNAME record: A DNS record that makes one name an alias of another canonical name.