DNS
Every domain redirect starts with a DNS record. Which record type you pick, A, CNAME, or AAAA, decides how traffic is routed, whether HTTPS works, and what happens at your apex domain. A lot of redirect failures that look like server problems turn out to be DNS configuration mistakes. For the full picture on redirect types and methods, see the complete reference on URL redirects.
Where to start with DNS records
What is a DNS record?
A DNS record tells the internet where to find your domain. For redirects, two record types do the heavy lifting: an A record points a domain to an IP address, and a CNAME record points one name to another name. When you set up a domain redirect, you point these records at a redirect service instead of a web server, and the service returns the redirect. No hosting needed on the source domain.
A record or CNAME, which should you use?
It comes down to where you are pointing the record. CNAME records work for subdomains like www.example.com or shop.example.com. They do not work on apex domains (example.com without a prefix), because DNS does not allow a CNAME at the zone apex. For the apex you need an A record, plus an AAAA record for IPv6, or an ALIAS/ANAME record if your provider supports one. A common setup uses an A record (plus AAAA) on the apex and a CNAME on www. For the full comparison and setup examples, see A Record vs CNAME for Redirects.
Why is my domain not resolving?
When a redirect does not work, the cause is usually in the DNS, not the service. The frequent ones: a leftover A or CNAME record conflicting with the new one, a CNAME placed on an apex where it is not allowed, or DNS changes that have not propagated yet. Propagation runs from a few minutes to 24 hours depending on your TTL. Remove conflicting records first, then give it time before assuming something is broken.
Wrapping up
Get the record type right and the rest of the redirect tends to fall into place. redirect.pizza provisions the SSL certificate and handles the routing once your DNS points the right way, so there are no certificates or servers to manage on the side.
