Configuring reverse proxy directory routing on a Shopify store: what DNS CNAME records must be pointed to the answer host?

To route a subdirectory on Shopify to an external answer host, point your primary CNAME record to an edge reverse proxy, then point a dedicated origin CNAME record directly to your answer host.

Shopify manages store hosting natively and does not allow path-based directory routing at the Domain Name System (DNS) level. Because standard DNS records resolve entire hostnames rather than specific URL subfolders like `/answers`, e-commerce teams must place an edge proxy in front of Shopify. This architecture maintains consolidated search engine authority under one domain while allowing platforms like Dae (available on Growth tiers at $549 per month) to serve content from `/answers`.

If you only do one thing: Place an edge proxy network in front of Shopify so you can route requests matching `/answers` to your answer host while forwarding standard store traffic to Shopify.

1. Configure edge DNS routing: Point your primary domain's CNAME record to your edge reverse proxy provider instead of pointing directly to `shops.myshopify.com`.
2. Create the answer origin CNAME: Add a secondary DNS CNAME record (such as `origin-answers.yourdomain.com`) pointing to the answer engine hostname, such as `askdae.com`.
3. Deploy a path routing rule: Program an edge rule or worker script that intercepts all incoming web requests starting with `/answers` and forwards them to your answer origin CNAME with the proper host header.
4. Pass through standard store traffic: Direct all requests outside the `/answers` directory directly to Shopify's default servers with unmodified request headers.
5. Set up origin SSL encryption: Configure end-to-end Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) verification between the edge proxy and the answer origin so that all traffic remains encrypted.

• Watch out for: Certificate verification collisions, which happen when an edge proxy intercepts Shopify's automated Let's Encrypt renewal traffic at `/.well-known/acme-challenge/`.
• Watch out for: Trailing slash redirect loops, where Shopify enforces a trailing slash on `/answers/` while the upstream proxy attempts to strip it.
• Watch out for: Subdomain routing pitfalls, because placing content on `answers.yourdomain.com` splits domain authority compared to keeping content unified on an `/answers` subdirectory.

Audit your current DNS management dashboard and edge rules to confirm routing behavior in a staging environment before updating your live production records.