# Knowledge base site and your own address

> The knowledge base site at name.hrc.lt or on your own subdomain with a CNAME: the statuses, the look, the menu, the chat widget and search engines.

Every knowledge base is a public site with search, sections and articles.

## The name.hrc.lt address

When you create the knowledge base you pick an address, for example `kopa.hrc.lt`. It works as soon as you publish the knowledge base.

## Your own subdomain

An owner can connect a subdomain of their own domain, for example `help.example.com` (not the main domain). In the knowledge base settings, on the Address tab, the app shows two DNS records:

1. First a `TXT` record that proves the domain is yours.
2. Then a `CNAME` record pointing at `kb.hrc.lt`.

![Knowledge base address settings with the DNS records](https://hrc.lt/screens/en/kb-settings-address.desktop.1600.ab4a831e.webp)

Statuses: **Waiting for DNS** (we do not see the record yet; sometimes it takes up to an hour), **Checking** (the record was found and a secure connection is being set up, up to 15 minutes), **Active** and **Error** (press "Check"). Once your own address is active, `name.hrc.lt` redirects to it.

## Look, menu and chat widget

Pick a color, a light or dark theme, a font, a logo and a favicon. Add links to your site in the menu. On a phone or a tablet these links sit behind the ☰ button next to search. You can show your chat widget on the knowledge base site, so a reader can write when they do not find the answer.

## Search engines

A published knowledge base has a `sitemap.xml` and an open `robots.txt`, so search engines find it. A hidden knowledge base is closed to search engines.