Answer:
The tool designed to look up names on the DNS server to find a domain name or IP address is called a DNS resolver. It is responsible for converting human-readable domain names, such as www.example.com, into machine-readable IP addresses, like 192.0.2.1.
Step-by-step explanation:
Here's a step-by-step explanation of how a DNS resolver works:
1) When you enter a domain name in your web browser, such as www.example.com, your computer sends a query to a DNS resolver.
2) The DNS resolver checks its cache, which is a temporary storage of recently accessed domain names and their corresponding IP addresses. If the domain name is found in the cache, the resolver retrieves the IP address and sends it back to your computer.
3) If the domain name is not found in the cache, the resolver acts as a middleman and sends a query to the DNS server.
4) The DNS server, also known as a DNS authoritative server, contains information about various domain names and their IP addresses. It checks its records to find the IP address associated with the requested domain name.
5) Once the DNS server finds the IP address, it sends the response back to the DNS resolver.
6) Finally, the DNS resolver receives the IP address from the DNS server and sends it back to your computer. Your computer can now establish a connection with the server hosting the website you want to access.
To summarize, a DNS resolver is a tool that acts as an intermediary between your computer and the DNS server to find the IP address associated with a domain name. It plays a crucial role in translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses, enabling you to access websites and other internet services.