targetdomain

Targetdomain is a term used in information technology to refer to the principal domain that a process, request, or activity is directed toward. It denotes the intended destination for network traffic, a service, or a security boundary within systems that manage multiple domains. In networking, the target domain is the DNS name that a client resolves to reach a service, such as a host in a load-balanced environment. In web security and identity management, the target domain is the domain name used in TLS certificates or in authorization flows, and must match the host name in the client’s request to avoid TLS verification errors.

In cybersecurity and threat modeling, target domain refers to the domain that an attacker or defender focuses on, for example the domain that is compromised or monitored. In testing and data analysis, a target domain is the domain under evaluation or the focal point of experiments, such as simulated traffic aimed at a specified domain.

Configuration and policy considerations involve ensuring that target domains are correctly configured in DNS records, certificates, and security controls. Practices include validating domain resolution with DNSSEC, enforcing proper TLS validation and certificate management, and applying appropriate access controls and monitoring to detect unusual activity associated with the target domain. The term is used across domains including networking, security, and testing to describe the intended destination or focus of a given operation. See also DNS, TLS, domain name system, domain spoofing, threat modeling.