Check whether a hostname is an alias (CNAME) and follow it to its canonical target.
A CNAME points one name at another canonical name, forming an alias chain that resolvers follow to the final A/AAAA record. Apex/bare domains cannot have CNAMEs (they need SOA/NS), so 'no record' there is expected.
www.example.com CNAME → example.comUsually not. Most apex domains and direct hosts simply have A records instead of aliases.
Yes, CDNs often chain several CNAMEs before the final address record.
A gives an IP directly; CNAME gives another name that must be resolved further.