What Is DNS Server in Computer?
A DNS server, which stands for Domain Name System server, is a crucial component of the internet infrastructure. It plays a significant role in translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. This translation process enables users to access websites by typing familiar domain names like google.com instead of remembering complex IP addresses like 172.217.7.206.
How Does a DNS Server Work?
When you type a URL into your web browser, such as www.example.com, your computer sends a request to a DNS server to find the corresponding IP address. The DNS server then searches its database, known as the DNS cache or resolver cache, for the associated IP address.
If the requested IP address is found in the cache, it is returned to your computer, and your browser can establish a connection with the website’s server. However, if the IP address is not present in the cache, the DNS server will initiate a series of queries to locate it.
DNS Resolution Process:
- Your computer first contacts its local DNS resolver or recursive resolver.
- If the local resolver doesn’t have the information, it queries one of the root name servers that exist worldwide.
- The root name server directs the resolver to the appropriate top-level domain (TLD) name server responsible for handling requests related to that specific TLD (such as .com, .org).
- The TLD name server then points the resolver toward the authoritative name server for that particular domain.
- The authoritative name server provides your computer with the correct IP address for www.com.
Once your computer receives this information from the DNS server, it can connect to the website’s server using the provided IP address. The IP address is necessary for establishing a direct connection between your device and the website’s server.
The Importance of DNS Servers
DNS servers are vital for the functioning of the internet. They ensure that users can easily navigate the web without needing to remember or manually enter complex IP addresses for every website they visit. Additionally, DNS servers help distribute website traffic efficiently by directing users to different servers based on their geographic location, thus improving website performance and reliability.
Moreover, DNS servers can provide additional services such as caching, which helps speed up future requests by storing frequently accessed IP addresses in their cache. This reduces the time required to locate and retrieve IP addresses, resulting in faster web browsing experiences.
In Conclusion
The DNS server is an essential component of the internet infrastructure, responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses. It simplifies web browsing by enabling users to access websites using domain names rather than memorizing complex numerical addresses. Understanding how DNS servers work can help you troubleshoot network issues and appreciate the efficiency they bring to our online experiences.