Root nameserver

Root name server (alternatively spelled, root nameserver; also known as DNS root name server, or, simply, root server; hereinafter, the Server) is a name server for the root zone of the Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet. The Servers are a critical part of DNS infrastructure because they provide the initial data in resolving human-readable host names into IP addresses that are used in communication between Internet hosts.

Functions

The Server:

1. Maintains databases for:
   • All the records in the DNS root zone;
   • A list of TLD name servers, which are the authoritative name servers for the top-level domains (TLDs);
2. Directly answers requests of DNS resolvers for records in the root zone and appropriate TLD name servers.