What is DNS and How Does it Work?
You’ve probably come across the term DNS (Domain Name System) while registering a domain or creating a website. But what exactly is it, and why does it matter?
Think of DNS as the internet’s directory. It translates human-friendly domain names—like execulink.com—into IP addresses that computers use to communicate, such as 50.63.202.40 or 2001:0db8:85a3::0371:7234. Without DNS, you’d have to memorize those complex strings of numbers to visit your favorite sites or send an email. It’s a fundamental piece of how the internet works—everything from browsing Instagram to online gaming relies on it.
In the past, calling someone meant remembering their phone number or looking it up in a phonebook. Today, you simply tap a name in your contacts. DNS does the same for the internet: it matches domain names to IP addresses so that users don’t have to remember strings of numbers.
Computers talk using IP addresses, but those aren’t easy to remember. DNS connects domain names to these IPs, making it easier for people to navigate the web without memorizing technical details.
So how does DNS work?
You might’ve come across terms like DNS lookup or DNS query. Both simply describe how the Domain Name System (DNS) finds the information your browser needs to load a website. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the process:
- The Query Starts
When you type a domain like execulink.com into your browser, a DNS query begins. Its goal is to find the IP address that points to the website’s content.
- Root Servers
There are 13 main root servers worldwide. They don’t hold IP addresses themselves, but they act as traffic directors—sending the query to the correct Top-Level Domain (TLD) nameservers based on the extension (like .com, .net, or .org).
- TLD Nameservers
Each TLD (such as .com) has its own nameservers. If you’re trying to reach awesomeservice.com, your query gets directed to the .com TLD nameservers, which then points to the domain’s own nameservers.
- Domain Nameservers
These servers store the DNS zone file, which contains specific records such as A records (pointing to IPs), MX records (for email), and subdomains. From here, your browser gets the IP address it needs to load the website.
Note: DNS changes (like updating records) don’t always take effect instantly. They can take up to 48 hours to fully update around the globe, depending on your provider and configuration.