{"id":1000,"date":"2021-10-12T07:45:19","date_gmt":"2021-10-12T07:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pandavpnpro.com\/blog\/?p=1000"},"modified":"2022-09-17T13:15:46","modified_gmt":"2022-09-17T13:15:46","slug":"what-is-dns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panwchi.com\/blog\/what-is-dns","title":{"rendered":"What Is DNS (Server)? Definition, Workflow & Possible Privacy Concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

For people with no or little knowledge out there on the computer, if online privacy turns into a focus, it\u2019s a must-do to know what does DNS stand for, how it works, and the relationship between DNS and Internet privacy & security. <\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

DNS is such a commonly known computing term just like the IP address<\/a>. Although DNS is somewhat not so familiar as IP to the common user, it plays quite a crucial part in both the application layer and normal Internet functionality. Now let\u2019s unveil the mysteries of DNS one by one in detail.<\/p>\n

What Is DNS? How Does DNS Work?<\/h2>\n

DNS is short for Domain Name System<\/b><\/strong>. Wikipedia describes it as \u201ca hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network.<\/i><\/em>\u201d\u00a0In fact, this name system is a directory of IP addresses<\/b><\/strong>. In many cases, editors compare this kind of directory to a telephone book and the IP address the phone number. That\u2019s really an easy-to-understand metaphor. Whenever you want to visit a website, you input the full URL address in the browser and it\u2019s the DNS server that translates the URL into a related IP address.<\/p>\n

Then why DNS stores so many IP addresses? What are they used for? After viewing the following DNS workflow, you will make everything clear.<\/p>\n

The general internet request and feedback route is shown as follows:<\/p>\n

1. You enter and cinfirm the query<\/b><\/strong> by typing a domain name in a browser\u2019s address bar. For example: wikipedia.org<\/p>\n

2. The query goes to recursive resolver server<\/b><\/strong> or say recursive DNS<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0(usually from your ISP), which acts as a middle-man server that connects the user and authoritative DNS server.<\/p>\n

\"Visit<\/p>\n

3. When then recursive DNS server transports domain request to authoritative root server <\/b><\/strong>which contains all top-level domains such as .com, .net, and .org, here the domain information of \u201c.org\u201d (top-level domain of wikipedia.org) will be answered.<\/p>\n

* Root server is not a standalone server, but a server group that contains thousands of servers located in different places worldwide, for the purpose that your quest can be received by the nearest one fast for further operation. Still, there are many domain registries (e.g VeriSign and GoDaddy) to hold and manage WHOIS data.<\/p>\n

4. First-level domain information handled, it comes to the second-level information, which is all stored in top-level domain\/TLD name server.<\/b><\/strong> When the request is completed, the exact IP address of your target domain name will be found out.<\/p>\n

5. Then the above-mentioned recursive DNS server will continue to work. When it knows the IP address of your requested domain wikipedia.org, it simply shares the IP information with the browser and it\u2019s the browser that will finally send the visiting request to wikipedia.org. Once Wikipedia’s server accepts it and provides a response, you will soon see the rendered content on the browser page. <\/p>\n

A Look at The Structure of a Domain Name<\/h2>\n

To help you understand everything easier, the following picture showcases the structure of a common domain name. Set the very first protocol aside, a domain name usually consists of three parts: top-level domain name, second-level domain name, and third-level domain name in reverse sequence. When a specific domain visiting query is made via browser, DNS who associates domain with IP address deals with the query and ass into IP address and make a connection.<\/p>\n

\"Different <\/p>\n

Several Types of DNS Server In Summary<\/h2>\n

According to the DNS working steps above, it\u2019s easy to draw that there are multiple DNS servers of different types, each of which performs its own unique function during the whole internet activity process. Here are some typical examples:<\/p>\n