What is DNS (Domain Name System)?
A system, managed in a distributed way by servers around the world, that maps domain names such as www.example.com to the IP addresses used for communication.
Japanese name: DNS
DNS (Domain Name System) appears in 9 practice questions across 2 topics, including Computer Networking Basics, Cloud and Container Basics.
Field: Computer Networking Basics
How name resolution works
A device sends its query to a full-service resolver (caching DNS server) run by its ISP or organization. If the answer is not cached, the resolver asks a root server, then a TLD server such as the one for .com, then the domain's authoritative DNS server, and returns the answer to the device. Each server only says "ask this server next," so no server needs to hold all the data.
Main records and transport
Record types include A for IPv4 addresses, AAAA for IPv6 addresses, CNAME for aliases, MX for mail delivery and NS for a domain's authoritative DNS servers. Queries mainly use UDP port 53, and TCP is also used, for example when responses are large. Against eavesdropping and forged responses, DNSSEC signatures and encryption such as DNS over HTTPS (DoH) are used.