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Domain Name Service (DNS)

When a client sends a request to the server, it has to use an Internet Protocol (IP) address so that we can find the correct server. Modern web browsers allow us to enter a domain name instead, which the DNS translates.

Why use the DNS?

Why use the DNS?

  • Domain names are much easier to read and remember than IP addresses.
  • Computers have to use IP addresses to communicate over the Internet Protocol.
  • The DNS converts these domain names into IP addresses for us.
DNS lookup

DNS lookup

  • When we have a domain name, we send a request to the nearest DNS server asking for the IP address associated with that domain name.
  • The DNS server responds with the correct IP address.
  • The client can then use this IP address to send their original request.
DNS miss

DNS miss

  • If a DNS server does not have an IP address associated with a particular domain name (a DNS miss), then it can ask other DNS servers that it knows about.
  • By continuing to ask other, larger DNS servers, we will eventually resolve the IP address and send this to the original client.
Jump to other topics
1

Computer Systems

1.1

Data Representation

1.2

Data Transmission

1.3

Hardware

1.4

Software

1.5

The Internet & its Uses

1.6

Cyber Security

1.7

Automated & Emerging Technologies

2

Algorithms, Programming & Logic

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