RFC 1034 / RESOLUTION

Iterative resolution

A resolver can do the chasing itself, choosing progressively closer servers until it finds an answer.

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RFC 1034 · § 5.3.3EXAMPLE

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Reach the answer.

The authoritative server returns the matching host record.

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KEY POINT

Each referral narrows the search.

Start with useful cached information or a configured server safety belt.
Choose servers with the closest known matching ancestor of the queried name.
Retry alternatives and bound the work so failure or alias loops do not run forever.

DETAILS

Real resolution may require extra address lookups and retries. These four steps illustrate a successful cold-cache path.

Diagrams simplify the RFC. Read the linked sections for complete requirements.

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