---
title: What is a domain?
sidebarTitle: What is a domain?
description: Plain-language explanation of domains, ownership, and how they relate to email with Reloop.
---
> For the complete documentation index, see [llms-docs.txt](/llms-docs.txt) or the site index [llms.txt](/llms.txt). Full docs corpus: [llms-full-docs.txt](/llms-full-docs.txt). Prefer markdown URLs (append `.md`) for agent consumption. Product skill: [skill.md](/skill.md).


A **domain** is the human-readable name for your brand on the internet — for example `acme.com` or `shop.acme.com`.

## Domain vs website vs email

| Concept | Example | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Domain** | `acme.com` | The name you registered |
| **Website** | `https://acme.com` | Pages hosted somewhere (Vercel, Netlify, WordPress, …) |
| **Email address** | `hello@acme.com` | Mail identity that uses the domain after the `@` |

Reloop is email infrastructure, not a website host. Your site can stay on Vercel, Netlify, WordPress, or anywhere else — Reloop only needs permission (via DNS) to **authenticate and deliver** mail for that domain.

## Who “owns” a domain?

Ownership is recorded at a **registrar** (GoDaddy, Namecheap, NameSilo, Cloudflare Registrar, Squarespace, etc.). You renew it yearly (or longer). Owning the domain means you can:

- Change **nameservers** (who answers DNS questions)
- Create **DNS records** (or point NS to another DNS host that does)
- Prove control to services like Reloop

## Root domain vs subdomain

- **Root (apex):** `acme.com`
- **Subdomain:** `mail.acme.com`, `news.acme.com`, `send.acme.com`

You can connect the **root**, a **subdomain**, or **both** to Reloop.

### Pros of a subdomain

- Existing MX on the root stays untouched
- Easier SPF story if the root already has a long SPF
- Separate sending reputation from corporate mail
- Clearer mental model: “product mail lives on `mail.`”

From addresses look like `hello@mail.acme.com` unless you also configure other identities — plan branding accordingly.

### Pros of the root domain

- Addresses look like `hello@acme.com`
- Fewer labels to manage
- Fine when Reloop is the primary mail platform for that domain

## What Reloop needs from you

1. A domain (or subdomain) you control
2. Ability to publish DNS records at the host that serves that domain’s nameservers
3. Verification in the Reloop dashboard