The internet has multiple segments that are unknown to general users. DNS is one such sphere that is often known as a vulnerable spot on the web as well as the address book of the world of the internet.
DNS stands for Domain Name System. People access data on the internet through different domains. DNS converts domain names to IP addresses because browsers have to load Internet resources. IP addresses help web browsers to communicate.
In this blog, we will explain DNS, its types, how it works, and its uses. Let’s start!
What is a Domain Name System?
In the networking world, computers are represented by numbers. In contrast, human beings use names to identify people. So, there is a clear communication gap between human beings and computers. To fill this gap network engineers designed a domain name system (DNS).
DNS is used to interpret domain names into IP addresses, and it allows browsers to access other internet resources.
In simple words, DNS works like a phone book. It helps in communication between computers and humans, by matching domain names to their respective IP addresses.
What are the Different Types of Domain Name Systems?
DNS recursor: A server that communicates with other DNS servers to resolve domain names after receiving requests from client computers, is known as DNS recursor.
DNS Root nameservers: These are the highest-level DNS servers that forward requests to the relevant TLD nameservers. They form the foundation of DNS.
TLD nameservers: These servers organize top-notch domains and route requests to the correct, and genuine nameservers.
Authoritative nameservers: These servers respond to DNS requests with the real response, which includes the requested domain IP name.
How Does Domain Name System Work?
In a regular DNS query, when the user types a URL, that URL goes through 4 servers. The reason behind this is to provide IP addresses.
Below 4 servers work with each other to get the right IP address to the client:
DNS recursor
The query is sent from the DNS client to the DNS recursor. It is also known as a DNS resolver. After that, to determine the correct IP address, it talks to additional DNS servers. Following the retrieval of the request from the client, the resolver functions in the same capacity as the client.
During the process, the resolver sends requests to the root nameserver, TLD nameserver, and authoritative nameserver.
DNS Root nameservers
The DNS root zone of the internet is provided by the root nameserver. It must respond to inquiries for root zone records. In response, it provides a list of the authoritative nameservers associated with the appropriate TLD.
TLD nameservers
The IP address of the second-level domain that is part of the TLD name is maintained by a TLD nameserver. After that, the IP address of the website is released, and the inquiry is transmitted to the domain nameserver.
Authoritative nameservers
The answer to your DNS query is provided by an authoritative nameserver. An authoritative nameserver can be either a slave server or a master server.
The slave server is an identical replica of the master server, but the master server retains the original copies of the zone records. If the master server fails, it serves as a backup and distributes the DNS server load.
What are the Uses of Domain Name System?
Human-readable to machine-readable
DNS translates domain names like “www.amazon.com” into IP addresses like “192.0.2.44”.
Controls which server user’s access
DNS servers control which server users access when they enter a domain name into their browser.
Phonebook of the internet
DNS servers proceed like a phone book. They allow users to type in domain names instead of IP addresses.
Enables internet access
DNS allows people to access the internet without having to know the IP address for each website.
Conclusion
DNS is the communication gateway between people and machines. It has four main types, DNS recursor, DNS Root nameservers, TLD nameservers, and Authoritative nameservers. These four servers work together. They provide the right IP address to the clients.
DNS is a vulnerable spot of the web, yet it is a very important element. Hope this piece of content helped you to understand DNS.
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