The Domain Name System (DNS) is a foundational component of the internet, often referred to
as the "phonebook of the internet." In essence, it translates human-friendly domain names (like
[Link]) into machine-readable Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (like [Link] for
IPv4 or [Link] for IPv6).
Here's a more detailed introduction to DNS:
Why do we need DNS?
● Humans prefer names, computers prefer numbers: It's much easier for us to
remember [Link] than [Link]. DNS bridges this gap, allowing us to use
memorable names while computers use their numerical addresses for communication.
● Dynamic nature of the internet: IP addresses can change, and websites can be hosted
on different servers. DNS provides a dynamic and distributed way to manage these
mappings, ensuring that even if a website's IP address changes, users can still reach it
using the same domain name.
How DNS Works (Simplified):
When you type a domain name into your web browser (e.g., [Link]), the following
simplified process occurs:
1. Your computer asks a DNS Resolver: Your computer sends a request to a local DNS
resolver (often provided by your ISP).
2. The Resolver queries the DNS hierarchy: If the resolver doesn't have the IP address in
its cache, it begins a series of queries to different DNS servers:
○ Root DNS Servers: These are at the top of the DNS hierarchy. They don't know
the specific IP address, but they know where to find the Top-Level Domain (TLD)
servers (e.g., .com, .org, .in).
○ TLD DNS Servers: These servers manage domain extensions (like .com). They
point to the authoritative DNS servers for specific domains.
○ Authoritative DNS Servers: These servers hold the actual DNS records for a
particular domain (e.g., [Link]). They provide the definitive IP address for
the requested domain name.
3. IP Address Returned: Once the authoritative DNS server provides the IP address, the
resolver sends it back to your computer.
4. Connection Established: Your computer then uses this IP address to connect to the web
server hosting [Link], and the website loads in your browser.
Key Components of DNS:
● Domain Names: Human-readable names that identify websites and other internet
resources.
● IP Addresses: Numerical labels assigned to devices connected to a computer network.
● DNS Servers: Specialized servers that store and provide DNS information. These
include:
○ Recursive DNS Servers (Resolvers): Act as intermediaries, fetching information
from other DNS servers.
○ Root DNS Servers: The highest level of the DNS hierarchy.
○ TLD DNS Servers: Manage specific top-level domains.
○ Authoritative DNS Servers: Hold the official records for specific domains.
● DNS Records: Entries within DNS servers that contain information about a domain, such
as its IP address (A record), mail server (MX record), and more.
Importance of DNS:
DNS is absolutely critical for the functioning of the modern internet. Without it, you would have
to remember a long string of numbers for every website you want to visit, making the internet far
less user-friendly and practical. It enables easy navigation, load balancing, and redundancy for
online services.
