How DNS Works: From Domain Name to IP Address
Ever wondered how typing google.com into your browser magically opens up the website? It’s not magic — it’s DNS at work. DNS stands for Domain Name System , and it's basically the Internet’s phonebook. It converts human-friendly domain names into computer-friendly IP addresses, so your device knows where to go. Let’s walk through how this invisible but vital system works step-by-step. Step 1: You Type a Domain Name Let’s say you type www.example.com into your browser. Your computer doesn’t actually know where that is — yet. It needs to find out the IP address associated with that domain. Step 2: Check the Local Cache Before asking around, your device checks its local DNS cache — a stored record of recent domain lookups. If it finds the IP address here, it skips the rest of the process and connects directly. Fast and efficient. But if there’s no cached record, the journey begins. Step 3: Ask the Recursive Resolver (Usually Your ISP) Your computer sends a DNS query to...