The FQDN specifies the exact location of a host withinDNS.
If the name isn’t this specified, it’s called a partially qualified domain name, or PQDN.
There’s more information on PQDNs at the bottom of this page.
An FQDN might also be called anabsolute domain name,since it provides the absolute path of the host.
For example, a mail server on theexample.comdomain may use the FQDNmail.example.com.
This meanswww.microsoft.com.would be the acceptable way to enter that FQDN.
However, most systems simply imply the period, even if you don’t explicitly give it.
Domain names that aren’t “fully qualified” will always have some sort of ambiguity about them.
These domain names that aren’t fully qualified are actually calledpartiallyqualified domain names.
Partially qualified domain names are just used for convenience, but only in certain contexts.
However, you should understand that FQDN and PQDN are definitely not the same things.
