What is DNS

Domain Name System (DNS) is a fundamental component of the internet infrastructure that plays a critical role in facilitating internet communications.

DNS is a system that translates human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses.

Every time you type a website address into your browser, a DNS server translates that domain name into an IP address that your device can use to connect to the website’s server.

In this blog post, we will explore the intricacies of DNS, its importance, and how it works.

The Basics of DNS

DNS is a hierarchical system that consists of multiple layers of servers, each with a specific function.

At the top of the hierarchy are the root servers, which are responsible for the overall functioning of the DNS system.

The root servers provide information about the top-level domain (TLD) servers that are responsible for specific domain extensions such as .com, .org, .edu, and so on.

When you type a domain name into your browser, your device sends a DNS query to a local DNS resolver, which is typically provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

The resolver looks up the domain name in its cache memory to see if it has the corresponding IP address already.

If not, the resolver forwards the query to the root servers to find the TLD server responsible for that domain extension.

Once the TLD server is identified, the resolver sends a query to that server to obtain the IP address for the domain name.

The TLD server, in turn, refers the resolver to the authoritative name servers for that specific domain.

These name servers are responsible for storing the DNS records for the domain, including the IP addresses of the servers hosting the website.

How DNS Works

DNS works using a distributed database system.

When a domain name is registered, the registrant provides information about the domain, including the IP addresses of the name servers that are authoritative for the domain.

These name servers are responsible for storing the DNS records for the domain, including the IP addresses of the servers hosting the website.

When a user types a domain name into their browser, their device sends a DNS query to a local DNS resolver.

The resolver uses a series of queries to locate the IP address of the website’s server, starting with the root servers and working its way down the hierarchy to the authoritative name servers for the domain.

The DNS system uses caching to improve performance and reduce network traffic.

When a resolver receives a response to a DNS query, it stores the result in its cache memory for a specified period.

If the same query is made again within that time period, the resolver can return the result from its cache memory without having to query the DNS system again.

The Importance of DNS

DNS is a critical component of the internet infrastructure that enables internet communications.

Without DNS, it would be difficult to browse the web, send emails, or use other internet-based applications.

DNS is also essential for online security, as it enables Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), which is a set of protocols designed to protect against DNS spoofing and other attacks.

DNS is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of the internet.

One of the latest developments in the DNS system is the implementation of the DNS over HTTPS (DoH) protocol, which encrypts DNS queries to protect users’ privacy and security.

DoH is becoming increasingly popular, with major web browsers such as Firefox and Google Chrome implementing the protocol by default.

Conclusion

DNS is a critical component of the internet infrastructure that enables internet communications by translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses.

It is a distributed database system that uses a hierarchical structure of servers to facilitate DNS queries. DNS is essential for online security and is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of the internet.

As the internet continues to grow and evolve, DNS will remain a crucial component of its infrastructure.