What Is Your DNS Server?

When you browse the internet, your computer needs to translate human-friendly domain names, like www.example.com, into machine-readable IP addresses, such as 192.0.2.1. This translation is done by a DNS (Domain Name System) server.

What is a DNS Server?

A DNS server is like a phonebook for the internet. It allows your computer to look up the IP address associated with a domain name so that it can establish a connection and load the requested website or service.

When you type a URL into your web browser, your computer sends a request to a DNS server to find the IP address linked to that domain name. The DNS server then responds with the corresponding IP address, allowing your computer to connect to the desired website.

Types of DNS Servers

There are several types of DNS servers:

• Recursive Resolver: This type of DNS server handles most of the lookup requests from your computer. It starts at the root level of the DNS hierarchy and recursively queries other servers until it finds the IP address associated with the requested domain name.
• Root Nameserver: These servers are responsible for providing information about top-level domains (TLDs), such as .com, .org, or .net.

  They direct queries to TLD nameservers.

• TLD Nameserver: Each TLD has its own set of nameservers that handle requests for domains within that TLD. For example, if you’re looking up a .com domain, your query will be directed to a .com nameserver.
• Authoritative Nameserver: These servers store specific information about individual domain names. When a recursive resolver queries an authoritative nameserver, it receives the IP address associated with the requested domain name.

How DNS Caching Works

In order to improve efficiency and reduce network traffic, DNS servers often employ caching. When a DNS server receives a lookup request, it stores the IP address associated with the domain name in its cache for a certain period of time.

If another request is made for the same domain name within that caching period, the DNS server can respond immediately without having to query other servers. This significantly speeds up the process of translating domain names into IP addresses.

Clearing Your DNS Cache

If you encounter any DNS-related issues or need to update your DNS records, it may be necessary to clear your DNS cache. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Windows: Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns. Press Enter to clear the cache.
2. Mac: Open Terminal and enter sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.

   Press Enter and provide your admin password if prompted.

3. Linux: Open Terminal and type sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches. Press Enter to flush the cache.

In Conclusion

DNS servers play a vital role in translating domain names into IP addresses, allowing us to access websites and services on the internet. Understanding how they work can help troubleshoot connectivity issues and appreciate their importance in our online experience.