How DNS Resolver Works

Whenever we open a website like google.com, we usually don’t think about what is happening in the background. But one important process that happens is called DNS resolution.

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It helps convert a website name into an IP address. This is needed because computers understand numbers, not names.

The process starts when we type a website name in the browser. The browser first checks if it already knows the IP address. If it is not found, it sends a request to something called a DNS resolver.

A DNS resolver is like a helper. Its job is to find the correct IP address for the website.

The resolver first checks its own memory (cache). If it has the answer, it returns the IP address quickly. If not, it starts asking other DNS servers.

First, it contacts the root server. The root server does not give the exact answer, but it tells where to find more information.

Next, the resolver asks the top-level domain (TLD) server, like .com or .org. This server also does not give the final answer but points to the correct place.

Finally, the resolver contacts the authoritative DNS server. This server has the exact IP address of the website. It gives the correct answer to the resolver.

Now the resolver sends this IP address back to the browser. The browser can now contact the server using this IP address and load the website.