How do wildcard domain names start with label?

By Kathir | January 2, 2023

Have you ever encountered a website with a subdomain that looks something like “anything.example.com”? These types of subdomains are made possible by the use of wildcard domain names. Wildcard domain names are a unique type of domain name that allows users to match any subdomain of a domain by using an asterisk (*) as a placeholder. But how do wildcard domain names start with a label? In this article, we’ll delve into the inner workings of wildcard domain names and explore how the label and asterisk placeholder work together to match any subdomain of a domain.

We’ll also discuss the potential technical limitations and lack of specificity that come with using wildcard domain names. Whether you’re a website owner looking to manage multiple subdomains under a single domain or simply curious about the inner workings of the internet, this article has something for you. So, let’s get started!

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What is Wildcard Domain name?

Wildcard domain names start with label as * (asterisk). Wildcard domain names are a special type of domain name that allows users to match any subdomain of a domain by using an asterisk (*) as a placeholder. This means that a wildcard domain name can be used to match any number of subdomains, making it a powerful tool for managing multiple websites or subdomains under a single domain.

What does the Wildcard Domain name Actually starts with?

A wildcard domain name typically starts with a label, which is the part of the domain name that comes before the first period (.) in a domain name. The label is usually used to identify the main purpose or category of a website, such as “www” for a standard website or “mail” for an email service.

Example:

For example, consider the wildcard domain name “.example.com”. In this case, the label is “”, which is used as a placeholder for any subdomain. This means that the wildcard domain name can be used to match any subdomain of “example.com”, such as “www.example.com”, “mail.example.com”, or “blog.example.com”.

Use of Wildcard Domain name:

Using a wildcard domain name can be particularly useful for organizations or individuals who have multiple websites or subdomains under a single domain. For example, a company with a large online presence might have the main website, a blog, an online store, and various other subdomains, all under the same domain name. In this case, the company could use a wildcard domain name to manage all of these subdomains under a single domain, rather than having to register and manage multiple domain names.

However, it’s important to note that wildcard domain names are not the same as regular domain names. Wildcard domain names do not have the same level of specificity as regular domain names, and they cannot be used to match individual subdomains. Instead, they are used to match any subdomain of a domain, which means that they are not as effective for directing traffic to specific subdomains.

In addition, wildcard domain names can have some technical limitations. For example, some web servers or DNS providers may not support wildcard domain names, or they may not support all types of wildcard domain names. It’s always a good idea to check with your web host or DNS provider to see if wildcard domain names are supported before using them.

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Conclusion:

Overall, wildcard domain names are a useful tool for managing multiple subdomains under a single domain. By using an asterisk (*) as a placeholder for any subdomain, wildcard domain names allow users to match any subdomain of a domain, making them a convenient way to manage multiple websites or subdomains under a single domain name. Just be aware of the technical limitations and lack of specificity that come with using wildcard domain names.