# Your customers' DNS

> The two DNS records your customers add to connect their own domain to your SaaS, how to word the instructions, and the usual DNS console mistakes.

Source: https://customdomainapi.com/docs/customer-dns/

When you register a hostname, the API returns two records. Show both to
your customer **exactly as returned**: the values are unique to each
registration.

| Type | Name | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXT | `_custom-domain-challenge.forms.acme.com` | `custom-domain-verify=…` | Proves they control the name. |
| CNAME | `forms.acme.com` | `edge.customdomainapi.com` (Free) or your edge name | Sends the hostname's traffic to the edge. |

## Instructions you can give your customer

> To use **forms.acme.com** for your workspace, add these two records at
> the company that manages your domain's DNS (your registrar, Cloudflare,
> Route 53, …). It usually takes a few minutes; we'll let you know when your
> address works.

## Common mistakes

Each record's `help` text in the API response covers these too.

- **The console adds the domain itself.** Many consoles want only the part
  before the domain: `_custom-domain-challenge.forms` and `forms` for
  `acme.com`. Entering the full name there produces
  `forms.acme.com.acme.com`.
- **An A or AAAA record is still there.** A name can't have a CNAME and
  other records at once: remove old A/AAAA records for the hostname.
- **A proxy is on.** With Cloudflare, set the CNAME to **DNS only** (grey
  cloud). The edge must see the visitor's TLS connection to issue the
  certificate.
- **Quotes.** Some consoles add quotes around TXT values; that's fine.
  Don't add extra spaces.
- **Apex domains.** Only subdomains such as `forms.acme.com` or
  `www.acme.com` can be used, not `acme.com` itself.

## After they add the records

The domain's checks report what was found, in plain words, such as
`cname_target_mismatch: CNAME points to old-host.example`. Show the
`message` to your customer, and let them press a "check again" button that
calls `POST /v1/domains/{id}/checks`.