Recursive vs Authoritative Servers
A DNS query involves two main actors:
1. Recursive Resolver: Usually operated by your ISP, Google (8.8.8.8), or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). It does the legwork of finding IP records on behalf of the client.
2. Authoritative Nameserver: The final database that holds the actual record files configured by the domain owner.
The 4-Step Resolution Walk
If a record is not in your browser or local OS cache, the recursive resolver starts a walk:
- Step 1: Root Server (.). Directs the resolver to the correct Top-Level Domain (TLD) server based on the suffix (e.g. .com).
- Step 2: TLD Nameserver. Points the resolver to the authoritative nameserver listed by the domain's registrar.
- Step 3: Authoritative Nameserver. Returns the target IP address to the recursive resolver.
- Step 4: Recursive Resolver. Returns the IP address to the browser, saving it locally for future queries.