{
  "$schema": "https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/schemas/article-v1.json",
  "schemaVersion": "1.0.0",
  "id": "ens-primary-name",
  "canonical": "https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/ens-primary-name/",
  "collection": "ethereum",
  "title": "ENS primary names: showing a name for your wallet address",
  "description": "Understand ENS reverse lookup and the forward-address verification needed before an app displays a primary name.",
  "aliases": [
    "set ENS primary name",
    "ENS reverse resolution"
  ],
  "dates": {
    "published": "2026-10-02",
    "modified": "2026-10-02",
    "verified": "2026-10-02T19:27:58.939Z",
    "dataAsOf": "2026-10-02"
  },
  "authorship": {
    "publisher": "Degrees of Satoshi editorial project",
    "process": "AI-assisted research and drafting with a separate automated source-verification pass; no external expert or named human review is implied."
  },
  "quickAnswer": {
    "text": "An ENS primary name links an address back to a name and verifies that the name resolves forward to the same address in the relevant chain context. A reverse record alone is insufficient. If the two directions disagree, an application should display the address instead of accepting the claimed name.",
    "claimId": "ens-primary-name-quick-answer",
    "sourceIds": [
      "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
    ]
  },
  "keyFacts": [
    {
      "label": "Forward",
      "value": "Name-to-address lookup supplies the payment destination.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
      ],
      "id": "forward",
      "claimId": "ens-primary-name-fact-forward"
    },
    {
      "label": "Reverse",
      "value": "Address-to-name lookup supplies a candidate display name.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
      ],
      "id": "reverse",
      "claimId": "ens-primary-name-fact-reverse"
    },
    {
      "label": "Verification",
      "value": "The candidate must resolve back to the original address.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
      ],
      "id": "verification",
      "claimId": "ens-primary-name-fact-verification"
    }
  ],
  "prerequisites": [
    "ethereum-accounts"
  ],
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "two-directions",
      "heading": "A display name needs both checks",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
      ],
      "paragraphs": [
        "A reverse record lets an account nominate a name. The additional forward lookup shows that the name’s records also point to that account. Without this check, an address could claim a misleading display label.",
        "The relevant chain matters. ENS documentation now supports chain-specific primary names as well as a default reverse record, so an app must use a coherent chain-specific lookup path."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "example",
      "heading": "A Base display needs the Base address record",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
      ],
      "paragraphs": [
        "Suppose a name has only an Ethereum mainnet address record. Setting a reverse record for it on Base does not automatically establish the matching Base forward record. The application’s verification can fail even though the mainnet lookup works.",
        "Set the appropriate forward record and reverse record through supported tooling, then check both directions for the intended chain. Do not assume mainnet display success proves every chain is configured."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "scope",
      "heading": "A primary name is presentation, not account custody",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse",
        "x425-eth-ens-expiry"
      ],
      "paragraphs": [
        "Setting a primary name does not move assets or change account keys. Applications that support the records can show the verified label; others can continue to display the raw address.",
        "Records, cache behavior and name ownership can change. An app should verify the current relationship rather than permanently trusting an earlier display name."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "Why does an app still show my address after setting a reverse name?",
      "answer": "The forward lookup may not match, the chain-specific configuration may be incomplete, or the app may not support the relevant records yet. Check both directions.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
      ]
    },
    {
      "question": "Does a verified primary name prove a legal identity?",
      "answer": "No. The verification concerns the relationship between an ENS name and an account address, not a government identity or personal reputation.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "x425-eth-ens-reverse"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": "ens-primary-name-quick-answer",
      "articleSlug": "ens-primary-name",
      "statement": "An ENS primary name links an address back to a name and verifies that the name resolves forward to the same address in the relevant chain context. A reverse record alone is insufficient. If the two directions disagree, an application should display the address instead of accepting the claimed name.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "source-8e756b4d7083a59e"
      ],
      "sourceLocators": [
        {
          "sourceId": "source-8e756b4d7083a59e",
          "locator": "Primary names; reverse resolution; verification"
        }
      ],
      "scope": {
        "collection": "ethereum",
        "dataAsOf": "2026-10-02",
        "blockHeight": null
      },
      "qualification": "",
      "evidenceStatus": "documented",
      "verification": {
        "status": "verified",
        "method": "independent automated source review",
        "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T19:27:58.939Z",
        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification agent verify_bitcoin_stablecoins_100",
        "notes": [
          "Fresh Primary Names guide explicitly requires forward/reverse match in chain context and gives Base mismatch example. Default reverse and default EVM record support verified. Draft excludes stale library-adoption and fixed propagation estimates."
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ens-primary-name-fact-forward",
      "articleSlug": "ens-primary-name",
      "statement": "Forward: Name-to-address lookup supplies the payment destination.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "source-8e756b4d7083a59e"
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      "sourceLocators": [
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        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification agent verify_bitcoin_stablecoins_100",
        "notes": [
          "Fresh Primary Names guide explicitly requires forward/reverse match in chain context and gives Base mismatch example. Default reverse and default EVM record support verified. Draft excludes stale library-adoption and fixed propagation estimates."
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ens-primary-name-fact-reverse",
      "articleSlug": "ens-primary-name",
      "statement": "Reverse: Address-to-name lookup supplies a candidate display name.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "source-8e756b4d7083a59e"
      ],
      "sourceLocators": [
        {
          "sourceId": "source-8e756b4d7083a59e",
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      "scope": {
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      "evidenceStatus": "documented",
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        "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T19:27:58.939Z",
        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification agent verify_bitcoin_stablecoins_100",
        "notes": [
          "Fresh Primary Names guide explicitly requires forward/reverse match in chain context and gives Base mismatch example. Default reverse and default EVM record support verified. Draft excludes stale library-adoption and fixed propagation estimates."
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ens-primary-name-fact-verification",
      "articleSlug": "ens-primary-name",
      "statement": "Verification: The candidate must resolve back to the original address.",
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        "source-8e756b4d7083a59e"
      ],
      "sourceLocators": [
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        "reviewer": "Independent automated verification agent verify_bitcoin_stablecoins_100",
        "notes": [
          "Fresh Primary Names guide explicitly requires forward/reverse match in chain context and gives Base mismatch example. Default reverse and default EVM record support verified. Draft excludes stale library-adoption and fixed propagation estimates."
        ]
      }
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "x425-eth-ens-reverse",
      "label": "ENS primary names",
      "publisher": "ENS Labs",
      "url": "https://docs.ens.domains/web/reverse/",
      "locator": "Primary names; reverse resolution; verification",
      "note": "Reverse-name display, chain-specific primary names and forward-address verification.",
      "version": "Documentation snapshot retrieved 2 October 2026; response hash recorded separately",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T18:55:25.312Z",
      "contentSha256": "1f7f00ca52002d56a66b5ce6e7fd67180aaef4e407b9ee61d5878ccfa90e0e1d",
      "recordId": "source-8e756b4d7083a59e"
    },
    {
      "id": "x425-eth-ens-expiry",
      "label": "Expired ENS names and wallet access",
      "publisher": "ENS Labs",
      "url": "https://support.ens.domains/en/articles/12311858-do-expired-ens-names-affect-wallet-access",
      "locator": "Expiry; grace period; wallet access",
      "note": "Name expiry affects name use rather than cryptographic ownership of the associated account.",
      "version": "Documentation snapshot retrieved 2 October 2026; response hash recorded separately",
      "checkedAt": "2026-10-02T18:55:25.397Z",
      "contentSha256": "a35541d3315935531ad5d33e3608a8a7cb5261539cc11195e31f377b5ccfa511",
      "recordId": "source-fb90e1f6259646dd"
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  ],
  "related": {
    "articles": [
      "ethereum-chain-id",
      "ethereum-address-checksums",
      "ens-owner-manager-resolver",
      "ens-address-records"
    ],
    "dossiers": [],
    "wallets": []
  },
  "revisionHistory": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-02",
      "kind": "published",
      "summary": "First publication after primary-source research and separate automated verification."
    }
  ],
  "citation": "Degrees of Satoshi editorial project. “ENS primary names: showing a name for your wallet address.” Published 2026-10-02; updated 2026-10-02. https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/ens-primary-name/"
}