A fully qualified domain name (FQDN) is the complete address of a specific host, including every level of the name.
For example, in mail.yourdomain.co.uk:
- mail is the hostname
- yourdomain is the domain name
- .co.uk is the top-level domain
Technically an FQDN ends with a dot (mail.yourdomain.co.uk.), representing the root of the DNS, but this is normally left off.
Where you'll see FQDNs
- Server hostnames, such as the one in your welcome email used to connect to cPanel, FTP or SSH
- Mail server settings in email clients
- DNS records, where a record name must match the full host it applies to
If a setting asks for an FQDN, always enter the full name rather than just the first part.
