An A record points a domain or subdomain directly to an IPv4 address. A CNAME points one domain name to another domain name instead of pointing directly to an IP address.
An A record is normally used when you want a domain or subdomain to load from a specific server. A CNAME is normally used when a name, such as www, should follow another hostname. In Plesk, DNS records are managed from Websites & Domains > DNS Settings.
Using the wrong record can cause the website or service to point to the wrong place, fail to load, or conflict with other DNS records. Some DNS changes in Plesk also need to be updated or applied before they take effect.
Good to Know: In Plesk, a CNAME is normally used for subdomains, not the main root domain. For the main domain, an A record is usually the correct option.
