Help centre

How to point a domain to hosting

Short answer

A domain is pointed to hosting through a DNS record: an A record to the server’s IP address, or a CNAME to the name your hosting provider gave you. The record is added in the domain’s DNS management and usually takes effect within a few hours.

Source: general DNS rules (RFC 1035); ZRAZU rules

Steps

  1. Find your hosting’s address — Your hosting provider gives either an IP address for an A record or their own hostname for a CNAME record — it’s in the welcome email or the hosting panel.
  2. Find the domain’s DNS management — If the domain uses our nameservers, records are edited in the account. If not, DNS management stays wherever it already was.
  3. Add the record — For the root domain (example.com.ua) use an A record to the IP address. For a subdomain (www.example.com.ua) a CNAME to the hosting’s name works too.
  4. Check the result — Open the site in a browser or check the record with a DNS diagnostic tool — it shows exactly what each nameserver sees.

FAQ

How long does connecting take?

From a few minutes to a few hours: it depends on the previous record’s TTL and how quickly provider resolvers refresh it.

Can a CNAME be used for the root domain?

No, the DNS standard doesn’t allow it: the root domain needs an A or AAAA record — CNAME is only for subdomains.

Did this article help?