A directory with three referrals.
Who turns a domain name into an address?
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Who turns a domain name into an address?
Fit and connect the four directory devices.
The resolver asks the root directory where to find the top-level directory, then asks that directory for the authoritative server. Each reply returns to the resolver. The authoritative answer can be cached for its remaining TTL. A fresh cache can answer even while the authority is unavailable.
Deterministic DNS teaching exchange for example.test and documentation address 192.0.2.42. Only the final A answer is cached; delegation caching, negative answers, recursive server behavior and real network timing are omitted. TTL is in seconds and expires at now ≥ expiry. No network requests are made.
Resolve example.test, then answer a second request from an unexpired cache.
Resolve an address, then compare a fresh cache hit.