# Domain

To make your project reachable under a name of its own, you enter a domain and set the DNS records the platform shows you at your domain provider.

> Source: https://www.application-platform.com/en/docs/domain/

A domain such as `example.com` is the name people use to open your website or application; DNS translates it into the technical target. An `A` record points to an IPv4 address, and a `CNAME` record points to another hostname. Which records your project needs, and with which values, the platform determines from your project configuration; you only enter them at your domain provider.

## From the domain to a reachable project

1. If you do not have a domain yet, buy one from a registrar that lets you edit the DNS zone yourself; what that means is described under [Buy a domain]({{< relref "buy-domain" >}}).
2. Enter the domain when creating or editing your project, for example as the prod domain of your web app or homepage.
3. Open **Domains** in the sidebar. The detail view of a domain shows the expected records with type, host, and target value.
4. Copy these values into the DNS management of your domain provider, as described under [Configure DNS]({{< relref "domain-how-to" >}}).

## How the platform derives and checks the records

The platform derives the expected values from the assigned [server]({{< relref "servers" >}}) and the components that should receive a domain. It then continuously compares the actual DNS values with the expected ones. As soon as they match, a check mark appears in the **Status** column; if it is missing, at least one record differs, or the change has not yet propagated through DNS. There is nothing to confirm or trigger.

## If the domain is at Cloudflare or IONOS

Once a Cloudflare API token or an IONOS API key is connected under **Connections**, the platform writes the `A` and `CNAME` records into your zone itself and aligns them every time you save the project, as described under [Set DNS with Cloudflare]({{< relref "dns-cloudflare" >}}) or [Set DNS with IONOS]({{< relref "dns-ionos" >}}).