Module 13 of 14
Connect Your Own Domain
Video lesson: about 6 minutes, followed by the written steps below.
Why this matters
A custom domain can make a website easier to remember and share. It is optional: the Cloudflare Pages link from Module 12 is already a working website address.
What you'll learn
- What a domain is.
- How to ask Codex to help connect a domain you already own.
Step-by-step instructions
- A domain is a web address you own, such as
mytasks.com. You may need to buy one from a domain seller before you can connect it. Do not buy one yet unless you want a custom web address. - If you already own a domain, type this message and press Return:
I own the domain [type your domain here]. Please help me connect it to my Cloudflare Pages website. First, tell me what you can do automatically and what I need to do myself. Explain every step in plain English. Do not change my domain settings until I approve the plan.
- Read Codex's plan. You may need to sign in to the company where you bought the domain, or to Cloudflare.
- If Codex gives you a setting to copy, use its Copy message button. Paste the copied text only into the place Codex identifies.
- After the connection is complete, type:
Please tell me exactly how to check whether my domain is connected to my website.
- Open your domain in a browser. It can take a little time before a new domain connection works everywhere.
How to check it worked: Your domain opens the same My Tasks website as your Cloudflare Pages link.
If something doesn't work
My domain does not open my website yet. I see [describe what you see]. Please explain whether I need to wait or take one specific next step. Do not change other settings.
What just happened?
You connected your own web address to the website Cloudflare is already hosting. The domain is the easy-to-remember name; Cloudflare Pages is where the website files are served from.
Some domain changes take time to spread across the internet. Waiting is sometimes the correct next step, so do not keep changing settings while you wait.
By the end of this lesson
- You will understand that a custom domain is optional.
- You will know what Codex can do automatically and what may need your approval.
- You will know whether your domain or Cloudflare Pages link is your website address.
Module checklist
- You understand that a domain is a web address you own.
- You know whether you connected a domain or chose to keep the Cloudflare Pages link.
- If connected, your domain opens My Tasks.
Next module: You will safely update your live website.