DNS Fundamentals
Core concepts including records, resolution, caching, and TTL behavior.
5 articles · ~25 min total · reads in order
DNS 101: Introduction to the Domain Name System
An introduction to DNS explaining what problem it solves, why it is designed as a distributed system, and how its core roles fit together.
How DNS Resolution Works (At a High Level)
A conceptual walk through how a domain name becomes an answer, focusing on the resolution flow rather than individual record types.
Domain Names, Labels, and the DNS Namespace
An explanation of how domain names are structured, how labels function, and how the hierarchical DNS namespace enables delegation and resolution.
DNS Zones and Delegation
How the DNS namespace is divided into zones, how authority is delegated, and why zone boundaries shape control, caching, and failure behavior.
DNS Caching and TTL: What Resolvers Remember and for How Long
How DNS caching works, what a TTL actually controls, why positive and negative answers expire on different clocks, and why changes spread unevenly.