Which component is primarily responsible for translating a domain name to an IP address during a DNS lookup?

Which component is primarily responsible for translating a domain name to an IP address during a DNS lookup?

• A. The web browser
• B. The OS
• C. The DNS resolver
• D. The DHCP server

Answer: (C)

DNS lookups rely on the DNS resolver to translate a domain name into an IP address. The resolver receives the query, checks its cache, and, if needed, queries root servers, then the appropriate top-level domain servers, and finally authoritative servers to obtain the correct IP. It then returns the IP to the requester and caches the result for future lookups. The web browser might initiate the lookup or the OS might provide the resolver service, but the actual translation is performed by the DNS resolver. The DHCP server handles IP address assignment, not name-to-IP translation.

DNS lookups rely on the DNS resolver to translate a domain name into an IP address. The resolver receives the query, checks its cache, and, if needed, queries root servers, then the appropriate top-level domain servers, and finally authoritative servers to obtain the correct IP. It then returns the IP to the requester and caches the result for future lookups.

The web browser might initiate the lookup or the OS might provide the resolver service, but the actual translation is performed by the DNS resolver. The DHCP server handles IP address assignment, not name-to-IP translation.