What Is a Domain Name Server?
3 min read
When searching for a suitable NZ domain name, you might have heard of the term “domain name server” quite a lot. So, what exactly is a domain name server? How does it work?
As you already know, when you buy Domain name from your trusted Domain Host, it acts like a physical representation of your business. Just like your individual name makes you stand out in the crowd, domain names help websites differentiate themselves among thousands of their kind.
Essentially, a domain name server allows the users to connect to any website using its domain name rather than the complex IP address. To know how it works, keep reading!
What is a Domain Name Server/DNS Address?
As we already know, each computer system on the internet has a unique address, known as an IP address. For those who don’t know, a typical IP address looks something like 193:234:567:8.
Each website on the internet is identified by its IP address. But as you can clearly see, remembering the IP addresses of the websites we use regularly can be very challenging. This is where domain names come into the picture.
Domain names allow website owners to represent their websites on the internet using unique names. So, when searching for a website, you simply enter its domain name or URL.
Now, the job of domain name servers is to map these URLs to the right IP addresses of the websites.
How Do NZ Domain Name Servers Work?
The working of domain name servers is very straightforward. Let’s understand this with the help of an example:
When you search for example.com in your browser, it needs to identify the IP address of www.example.com. Thus, it contacts the DNS servers to find out the location of a nameserver where the web pages are stored.
It works very similarly to a phone directory system. For instance: you want to visit “Jamie’s Pizzeria” but don’t know the address. So, you look for the same in the phonebook directory, which shows it is located at 123 XYZ Street. Now, you can visit the location easily.
4 Types of DNS Servers Involved in Loading a Webpage
DNS stands for Domain Name System, and a domain name server is basically a part of this system.
Alongside a root name server, three other servers are used for successfully loading a webpage. All of these are explained below:
- DNS Recursor: It is basically a server whose task is to receive user queries from a web browser or any other application.
- Root Name Server: The job of a root name server is to translate the domain names asked by users into their respective IP addresses.
- TLD Name Server: A top-level domain name server is used for mapping the last part of a hostname or URL. For instance: in example.com, “.com” is the TLD server.
- Authoritative Name Server: This is a final name server that returns the IP address of the requested domain name or URL back to the Domain Recursor.
Conclusion
At the time of domain registration, website owners are required to register a domain name that is closely relevant to their business. Because it helps your customers identify your business, a domain name needs to be simple and easy to remember.
