▶ Interactive Lab

DNS Resolution with Caching

Recursive DNS resolution from stub to root to authoritative, with TTL cache.

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Click 'Resolve' to walk the DNS hierarchy. Repeat to see cache hits.

What you're seeing

DNS resolution starts at the stub resolver (your OS). If not cached, it queries a recursive resolver (1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8). The recursive walks the hierarchy: root server → TLD server (.com) → authoritative server (example.com).

Each step has a TTL; cached answers skip the walk. With a 60-second TTL, the second lookup within 60 s is instant; after that, the walk repeats.

★ KEY TAKEAWAY
Recursive DNS walks the hierarchy: stub → recursive → root → TLD → authoritative. Cache hits skip the walk entirely.
▶ WHAT TO TRY
  • Click Resolve twice — first walks the full tree, second is instant (cache hit).
  • Adjust TTL to see when re-walking happens.