Subdomain
A prefix before the main domain name creating separate sections, like blog.example.com or shop.example.com. Subdomains can isolate different applications while maintaining brand association. Consider whether subdomains or subdirectories better serve your SEO strategy.
Custom Domain
A personalized web address like yourbrand.com instead of a platform-provided subdomain. Custom domains are essential for professional branding and improve trustworthiness with visitors. Framer supports custom domains with automatic SSL certificate provisioning and straightforward DNS configuration.
DNS
Domain Name System—the internet's phone book that translates human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses computers use. DNS propagation can take 24-48 hours when pointing a domain to new hosting, though it often completes much faster. Proper DNS configuration is essential for connecting custom domains to your Framer site.