What is a FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name)?

Last updated on 28 Sep 2023, 10:31:52.
Category: All about domain names

DNS

What is a fully-qualified domain name?

A FQDN (fully qualified domain name) is an entire domain name address, it includes your hostname, domain name and top-level domain, like below:

www.mydomain.com.

A relative domain name only contains a subdomain, and refers to a server within the same DNS zone, like below:

www

The two notations are functionally equivalent when referring to a server located within the same domain.

When do I use FQDN domain names?

When you're referring to a server located outside your own DNS zone, it's imperative you use FQDN notation.

For instance, in your DNS zone, by default the DNS servers will be the Kinamo nameservers:

@ NS ns1.kinamo.be.
@ NS ns2.kinamo.be.
@ NS ns3.kinamo.be.

Note that the at-sign above is a shorthand notation for referring to the whole domain, mydomain.com in this instance.

In theory, each FQDN must include a dot after the top level domain (e.g. ns1.kinamo.be. ) but our control panel does not require this, it will check this automatically.


Related articles

What information is necessary to register a .be domain name?

Registering a .be domain name is easy. Any person or legal entity can register a .be domain name. Kinamo will...

Read more

What is an SPF record?

If you want to prevent your sent mails from ending up in spam or junk folders at the recipient's end...

Read more

Mails sent to gmail.com do not arrive at the recipient

Messages sent to a gmail.com address do not arrive at the recipient. The sender gets an error message back saying...

Read more

Need extra help?

Were not all your questions answered?
Don't worry, we will be happy to help you via a support request!

Kinamo

Select your language

All languages: